It is the 3rd most popular professional sports league after the nfl and mlb yet espn does everything it can to promote it. Espn covers it as much or more than the nfl. It is boring and most of the country doesn't really care for it. As far as I'm concerned it should be 4th behind the mlb and nhl as well.

it's an upcoming sport, it's more popular with the younger people, and in 20 years will probably be up there with football.

The NBA is a global basketball league. Football & Baseball is not that prominent in other countries especially in the east. Soooooo, it all boils down to viewership and money.

ESPN loves LeBron.

NBA is a popular league