Small-Market Pride: Oklahoma City Mayors Defense of Thunders Representation in NBA Finals

The NBA Finals are about to commence, and this year's matchup between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics is a battle of two storied franchises. However, don't let that fool you into thinking that the interest in these teams is limited to their historical significance. Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney is proud of his city's representation in the league and believes that Philadelphia is a big city to many Americans, despite its small professional sports and TV market size. "There are 38,000 cities, towns, and villages in America, and we’re bigger than all but 37 of them,” he said recently. “OK? You think we’re a small market? Well, there’s 37,962 cities who think we’re a big market." While Kenney's math may be a bit off (the majority of Americans live in large cities and their surrounding metropolitan areas), his sentiment is understandable. The NBA has made a conscious effort to level the playing field for teams across the league, regardless of market size. Commissioner Adam Silver addressed this subject in his news conference prior to Game 1, stating that the league's goal is to have 30 teams all in a position to compete for championships if they are well managed. The 76ers and Celtics are a product of those efforts, and they promise to provide plenty of excitement on the basketball court. The contrasting styles of these high-octane teams will make for an exciting matchup, and the small-market aspect of the Finals adds an extra layer of intrigue. But what about the lack of interest in these small-market teams? Should it really matter? The NBA Finals featuring New York or Los Angeles would undoubtedly generate more eyeballs and revenue, but that's an issue for the network and league accountants to worry about. For basketball fans, the 76ers and Celtics offer a chance to see two teams from relatively small markets compete for the championship, and that's what makes this year's NBA Finals special. As the Finals tip off, let's not forget to appreciate the unique opportunity to witness two storied franchises from small markets go head-to-head on the biggest stage in basketball. And who knows, maybe this year's Finals will be remembered as one of the most memorable in NBA history.