Available data in 2023–2025 do show a clear trend toward more player‑centric fandom among younger sports fans, including NBA fans. Morning Consult and league executives report that Gen Z is more likely than older cohorts to choose favorite teams based on an individual player, with family/friends still the top factor and geography less important. (pro.morningconsult.com) Broader Gen Z research finds that about 75% identify as fans of specific athletes, 80% follow pro athletes online, and many continue supporting those athletes after they change teams, indicating looser, more player‑driven loyalty patterns. (hardrock.bet) Within basketball specifically, surveys cited in coverage of the NBA’s Gen‑Z strategy note that roughly 40% of Gen Z have a favorite NBA player (more than in other sports) and that LeBron James ranks as their top athlete, reinforcing that individuals, not franchises, anchor much of their emotional attachment. (essentiallysports.com) Industry commentary on next‑gen sports streaming similarly describes younger viewers as increasingly inclined to follow players and personalities rather than teams, consuming more highlights and social content centered on individual stars. (streamingmedia.com)

However, Jason’s prediction is stronger: he says that over time, younger NBA fans will predominantly follow star players rather than teams, and that future viewership and subscription demand will be driven more by specific players than by franchises. On the subscription and rights side, the NBA’s main products and deals in 2024–2025 (League Pass, Team Pass, and national packages like NBA on Prime) are still structured around teams and games, not around “follow this player” subscription SKUs, even though they add more star‑focused shoulder content and personalization. (support.watch.nba.com) There is evidence of a shift in that direction, but we are only about two years removed from the 2023 prediction, and no definitive data yet show that fandom or revenue is predominantly player‑driven rather than team‑driven. Because the claim is explicitly about an eventual, long‑term generational realignment and the current evidence is suggestive but not decisive, the status of the prediction as of November 2025 is best judged as inconclusive (too early to call).