ESPN pays roughly $2.6 billion per season for NBA media rights, including the NBA Finals.<\/p>\n
They might want to consider kicking in a few more bucks to hire a human graphics designer instead of the lazy AI slop they produced to celebrate the New York Knicks\u2019 first NBA title since 1973.<\/p>\n
Behind Finals MVP Jalen Brunson\u2019s 45-point performance, New York finished off the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals on Saturday. New Yorkers, many of whom had already been outside at various watch parties, took to the streets to celebrate the historic championship.<\/p>\n
Everyone seemed to be ready for the Knicks to win on Saturday. Nike had a Josh Safdie-directed commercial<\/a> ready to go. There was a Fanatics commercial for commemorative gear on ABC right afterward as well.<\/p>\n On social media, every sports-centric account attempted to make their mark and go viral, riding the good vibes. That includes the SportsCenter account, which posted a video that was very clearly AI slop from the jump. If someone watching hadn\u2019t figured that out immediately, the \u201chelicopter shot\u201d above Central Park with a NYC skyline full of fake buildings certainly cemented it. And that\u2019s before you get to the final shot, which reads \u201cWorth the Weight,\u201d which was certainly supposed to read \u201cWorth the Wait.\u201d<\/p>\n START SPREADING THE NEWS\u203c\ufe0f<\/p>\n NEW YORK IS BACK ON TOP \ud83c\udfc6 pic.twitter.com\/7kOBadIhq8<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n This actually makes a great illustration about why people don\u2019t like AI-generated videos. The AI-generated images depict scenes of exhilaration and happiness, yet you can feel the soullessness emanating from the crowds of fake people within. Including a skyline full of fake buildings is an insult to the city you\u2019re attempting to honor. And posting it with a literal spelling error is just the icing on the lazy cake.<\/p>\n knicks first ring in 70 years and the soulless company you are decides to pollute our eyes with AI.<\/p>\n \u2014 kimberly. (@problemsthots) June 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Crazy that ESPN is shamelessly posting misspelled AI slop lol on Main pic.twitter.com\/XoDSQeFSRD<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 ShakerBall Capital (@ShakerBall_Cap) June 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Plenty of actual video to use and yall are posting AI slop what the fuck is this garbage timeline we\u2019ve entered https:\/\/t.co\/Nzxgw77yds<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 2008-17 capitals survivor (@averagecapsfan) June 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n You\u2019re telling me a marquee franchise wins its first title in over half a century\u2026<\/p>\n And the \u201cworld wide leader in sports\u201d uses an AI video that says<\/p>\n \u201cWorth the weight.\u201d<\/p>\n There are so many people who would love the chance to make a video like this.<\/p>\n Shameful. #nbachampions<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/3aqh3VuOn8<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Ed DiOrio (@EddieDTV) June 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \t\n
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