If you’ve spent much time on NBA Twitter/Instagram over the past few weeks, you’ve probably heard something about the hit the league is taking in the ratings department.

On December 11, Outkick founder Clay Travis released a report stating, “NBA ratings have declined 48% since 2012. This year alone on ESPN they are down 28%.”

Since then, a major debate has been sparked about the NBA’s current product and how this may have contributed to the significant decline in viewership over the last decade and beyond.

Most of these discussions are overly nostalgic and lack important context. However, the controversy has inspired some key figures in pop culture to share their thoughts on the State of the Union.

One of these people is stand-up comedian and host of the “This Past Weekend” podcast, Theo Von. Von, whose podcast guest list ranges from athletes like Jameis Winston to politicians like future incumbent President Donald Trump, admitted he rarely watches the NBA these days.

“Like a lot of people, I don’t really watch the NBA anymore,” Von told me in an exclusive interview for Forbes.

“I just don’t watch it because it seems like you can’t identify with the players anymore. “You used to feel like you could relate to them,” Von explained.

He did not elaborate on this take. However, I assume Von is referring to the great skill that exists in today’s game. For many people, NBA players are so talented that defenses can barely contain them. This turns some games into an absurd shooting competition, which in turn makes it difficult for fans like Von to truly connect with the players on the court.

With that in mind, Von doesn’t believe the product itself is so much to blame for the ratings crisis, but rather all the competition that exists in today’s world of endless content at your fingertips.

“It just didn’t hold me. But I’m also a fan of all sports and you can only see so many things.” Von told me. “I like the NBA, but I just don’t love it. Maybe I should try again though.”

Although he’s not a die-hard NBA fan (a marked difference from his recent guest Timothee Chalamet), Von is a fan of some current players. Tyrese Haliburton, Luka Doncic, Mac McClung and Trey Murphy III were the first ones that came to mind. He also loves watching Caitlin Clark dominate in the WNBA.

Von, who grew up in Louisiana and attends Louisiana State University (LSU), is of course a New Orleans Pelicans fan. This could contribute to his lack of interest in the current NBA, as the Pelicans are nearly unwatchable due to their poor luck with injuries this season (they are currently 5-22).

“As a New Orleans Pelicans fan, I would rather watch the NBA more if Zion Williamson played more.* I can tell you that,” Von joked. “If that helps, I’ll buy him a Raising Cane’s basket.”

(*Sidebar: Williamson has only appeared in six of the Pelicans’ 27 games so far.)

Speaking of Raising Cane’s, Von was on hand Tuesday to support the restaurant chain with its annual charity bike giveaway. Cane’s has partnered with a number of athletes (including Patrick Surtain II and Jayden Daniels) and Von to provide children across the country with Raising Cane’s branded bikes in their local areas (in Von’s case, that would be Nashville, Tennessee).

“I am a friend of Todd Graves, who founded Raising Cane’s and started this bike giveaway inspired by his fond memories of being given a bike for Christmas as a child,” Von said. “I also used to have a bike that I loved, so it is a blessing to be here today. Everyone needs a bike. Chicken fingers, bikes, we’re hooking it up today. On behalf of Raising Cane’s I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Remember to keep the Christmas spirit in your heart. It’s about giving and lifting people up.”