• Behold Pop Culture
  • Posts
  • Basketball Feels Big Again 🏀 NBC, Wemby, and the Art of a Comeback

Basketball Feels Big Again 🏀 NBC, Wemby, and the Art of a Comeback

Behold Pop Culture

Author

Messiah McCall
October 28, 2025

📣 Headline of the Week: Back on NBC, NBA 🏀 Feels Regal Again

Opening week felt cinematic. The NBA returned to NBC with a Tuesday double-header that averaged 5.61M viewers — the most-watched October Opening Night in 15 years — and it looked, sounded, and felt like an event again. Championship banner. NBA MVP. Jordan. The country tuned in, and the league’s cultural footprint snapped back into focus.

💫 Quick Hits: The Culture in One Scroll

Sports ⚾: 21-year-old Victor Wembanyama not only earned “Player of the Week” honors for Week 1 of the 2025-26 season, but his dominant opening games have the MVP discussion ticking already.

Music 🎵: Dave released The Boy Who Played the Harp this week, a ten-track sprint of introspection and high-profile features that early reviews call “a commanding return”.

Film 🎥: The Michael Jordan segment on NBC’s new NBA coverage adds inter-gen star power and storytelling heft to the season’s narrative rollout.

Trend Watch: This week a new meme took over the Twitter world featuring the rabbit from the live-action Alice in Wonderland movie. The White Rabbit frantically taps his clock letting you know you are running out of time!

🧠 BPC Thoughts: The lesson for creators: distribution + packaging matters. Same product, different wrapper — and the story feels bigger. Can you re-package your content so it “premieres” like an event?

Sports

NBA 🏀 — Opening Week Watch-list

  • Victor Wembanyama’s breakout: Named Western Conference Player of the Week in Week 1 and in the early MVP chatter.

  • Repeat talk: The Oklahoma City Thunder are opening the season as heavy favorites to win back-to-back championships, with depth, continuity and market bets aligned.

  • Rookie alert: VJ Edgecombe exploded in his debut for 34 points, posting one of the most impressive first-games of all time.

🎙 Hear about my early season thoughts on the Behold Pop Culture podcast → Spotify

MLB ⚾ — 🏆 Championship On The Line

The 2025 World Series features the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. the Toronto Blue Jays — starting Oct. 24 in Toronto. The Jays dominated the Dodgers 11-4 in Game 1, sending a loud message early. Will Shohei Ohtani be able to lead the Dodgers to back-to-back championships?

NFL 🏈 — Jets Finally Win!

The New York Jets finally broke their 7 game losing streak, pulling off a wild 39-38 comeback win over the Bengals for their first victory of the season. Breece Hall led the charge with 133 yards and two touchdowns in an emotional performance that felt like a full-team exhale after weeks of frustration.

🎧 Music

🎶 Dave – A Triumphant Return
The Boy Who Played the Harp by Dave is out now and it’s making waves. The ten-track project features Tems, James Blake, Kano and more. The title evokes texture and introspection rather than bombast — a statement in itself. Critics say it’s “a commanding, stately return” for one of the U.K.’s top voices.

🎵 Soundtrack of the Week: Raindance — Dave

BPC Thoughts: This week shows you can do hype differently. Instead of “bigger louder faster,” Dave leaned into nuance and identity. If you’re building a brand, ask: is your next move louder or more layered? Might the subtler route serve you better?

🎙 Hear more about this album on this week’s Behold Pop Culture podcast → Spotify

🎬 Film / TV

Michael Jordan’s role in NBC’s new NBA broadcast isn’t just cameo-bait — it’s brand-elevation. His presence instantly raises the bar for primetime basketball coverage and injects legacy into the live-sports spectacle.

BPC Thoughts: In every creative discipline, veteran voices carry weight. If you can incorporate respected voices or create moments of transfer (new meets legacy), you amplify your credibility and reach.

☕ BPC Take of the Week: “When a World is Built, Attention Follows”

This week reminds us: success isn’t just about releasing a product — it’s about creating an ecosystem. The NBA season began as more than games: it opened as a chapter. Music dropped not just notes but identity. Scandals unfolded not just facts but pressure-points. Invite your audience into your world and they’ll stay for more than the moment.

Ask a sports fan what they think about the NBA season so far. Comment/reply with any insights you receive!

What did I miss? Is there a moment I slept on 😴?

Reply for a chance to be featured in next week’s issue!

📅 What to Watch / Listen / Track Next

  • Track Wembanyama’s MVP campaign this month.

  • Follow the Dodgers-Blue Jays series: Game 3 in L.A. on Oct. 27 is pivotal.

  • Dive into Dave’s album live: how are fans responding, what’s trending in culture?

Until Next Week…

Discuss, Explore, and BEHOLD POP CULTURE!

- Messiah

🎧 Listen: Behold Pop Culture Podcast
🎥 Watch: Behold Pop Culture Youtube Channel
💬 Reply: What story should we unpack next week?
📲 Share: Forward this to a friend who needs their culture fix in 3 minutes or less.