NBA offensive production is way down through the first two weeks of the season, Axios' Jeff Tracy writes.

By the numbers: Entering Thursday's games, league-wide offensive efficiency (points per 100 possessions) was down 4.72% compared to last season — the largest such drop in NBA history.

• Field goal percentage (44.8%) hasn't been this low since 2012 (also 44.8%).
• Three point percentage (34.3%) hasn't been this low since 1999 (33.9%), as players attempt a record number of threes for the 11th straight year.

State of play: A handful of factors seem to be contributing to the offensive struggles.

• New rules: The NBA implemented new rules to stop rewarding players who hunt fouls, and they're working: 19.9 free throw attempts per game is by far the lowest ever (21.7). There's nothing more efficient than scoring with the clock stopped.
• New ball: Wilson replaced Spalding as the official ball supplier this season, and players can tell the difference. "It doesn't have the same touch and softness," said Paul George. Joel Embiid says he still doesn't "totally feel comfortable with it."
• Fans are back: Offenses were historically efficient last year in front of empty or partially-filled arenas. The return of fans means the return of crowd noise and other distractions.
• Upper limits exist: Teams set a new record for offensive efficiency in four of the past five seasons. That's unsustainable.

Between the lines: The obvious caveat here is small sample size, as the season began fewer than three weeks ago.

• Offensive rating and three-point shooting through this point in the season are in line with historical norms, suggesting reversion could be coming, per The Athletic (subscription).
• Yes, but: Efficiency tends to stabilize roughly 13 games into the season, per Nylon Calculus, so there's not much time left for teams to break out of their funks.

The NFL is by far the most popular sports league in North America, but how do the others stack up?

By the numbers: Here's the most recent championship series TV viewership, by average viewers per game.

• ⚾️ 2021 World Series: 12.02M (Fox)
• 🏀 2021 NBA Finals: 9.91M (ABC)
• 🏒 2021 Stanley Cup Finals: 2.52M (NBC)
• ⚽️ 2020 MLS Cup Final: 1.07M (Fox)
• 🏀 2021 WNBA Finals: 548,000 (ABC, ESPN, ESPN2)

Of note: Super Bowl LV drew 91.63 million viewers on CBS. That was a single game, not a series, so it shouldn't be directly compared. But it's still useful context.

🔥 Hot take ... Sorry hockey fans, but it seems we have a "Big Three" (NFL, NBA, MLB) or a "Big Five" (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS) — not a "Big Four" (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL).

Suns owner Robert Sarver was the subject of a scathing ESPN report Thursday alleging nearly two decades of racism, misogyny and sexual harassment, Jeff writes.

The backdrop: Sarver, a Tucson, Arizona-based banking and real estate mogul, bought the Suns in 2004 for a then-record $401 million.

• The Suns have made the playoffs six times in 17 seasons under Sarver, and he's employed nine head coaches, including seven in an eight-season span.
• Over 70 former and current team employees were interviewed for the report, many of whom described a toxic and sometimes hostile work environment.

What they're saying: The report includes stories of Sarver using the N-word, sharing stories of his wife performing oral sex on him, and other reprehensible behavior.

• "There's literally nothing you could tell me about him from a misogynistic or race standpoint that would surprise me," said a former Suns executive.
• "The level of misogyny and racism is beyond the pale," said one Suns co-owner. "It's embarrassing as an owner."
• "If the commissioner comes in and investigates to see what the f--k is going on in Phoenix, [he] would be appalled," said a current employee.
• "I don't like diversity," Sarver allegedly replied to former coach Earl Watson in 2016, when Watson, who is Black and Hispanic, said he felt the organization lacked diversity.

The other side: Sarver denied the allegations or otherwise explained them away as misunderstandings or poor attempts at humor.

• "I've never called anyone or any group of people the N-word ... I don't use that word," he said through lawyers.
• "None of what's been said describes the Robert Sarver I know, respect and like," said Suns GM and 14-year NBA veteran James Jones.

What to watch: The NBA has opened an investigation into Sarver. Seven years ago, former Clippers owner Donald Sterling was banned from the league after similar reports — and audio recordings — of racist and sexist behavior surfaced.

⚽️ Revs rebrand: The New England Revolution unveiled a new look on Thursday, trading in their "crayon flag" for a sleek crest. The Revs had been the only founding MLS club still using its original brand identity.

🏒 Scoring bonanza: Patrice Bergeron (Bruins) and Brock Nelson (Islanders) both scored four goals Thursday, the first day with multiple four-goal scorers since 2005.

🏈 OBJ drama: The Browns plan to release disgruntled WR Odell Beckham Jr., who hasn't been with the team this week — and whose father has been trashing his QB on social media.

⚾️ Awesome video: The final out of the last 50 World Series.

🏈 Good read: The NFL's first real foray overseas, 30 years later (Alex Prewitt, SI)

"The plan was audacious. The results were mixed. And for those who were part of it, the World League's inaugural season was like nothing they'd experienced before, or ever would again."

The 50th New York City marathon is on Sunday, returning to the streets after last year's event went virtual, Jeff writes.

The big picture: This is the sixth and final major marathon, following Berlin (Sept. 26), London (Oct. 4), Chicago (Oct. 10), Boston (Oct. 11) and Tokyo (Oct. 17).

Three legends:

• Gary Muhrcke: The winner of 1970's inaugural race is among several "first finishers" being honored this weekend. Muhrcke won mere hours after coming off the nightshift as an FDNY firefighter and still runs daily in Central Park at age 81.
• Larry Trachtenberg: Merely being honored wasn't enough for this 67-year-old Princeton graduate — he's the only person who ran the first New York City Marathon who is also racing this year's event.
• Shalane Flanagan: The 40-year-old Olympic medalist (2008) has run each of the first five major marathons in the past six weeks, all in well under three hours. On Sunday, she'll complete her journey.

Go deeper: Race guide (NYT)

Two sports networks will go dark at the end of the year, per SBJ's John Ourand — a sign of the changing TV landscape.

• NBC Sports Network will shut down on Dec. 31, with sports shifting over to USA Network and Peacock.
• ESPN Classic will shut down on Jan. 1. after 24 years on the air. Any content "from the vault" should live on in ESPN+'s streaming library.

🎧 Listen: The Marchand and Ourand sports media podcast

INDIANAPOLIS — Jonathan Taylor (19 car, 172 yds, 2 TD) led the Colts past the Jets, 45-30 — the 1,069th unique final score in NFL history. Scorigami!!!

ATLANTA — The Jazz beat the Hawks, 116-98, to improve to an NBA-best 7-1. Utah looks like a West contender once again, while Atlanta (4-5) is off to a slow start after a surprise run to the East finals.

PHOENIX — Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr., Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson (L to R) will compete for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series crown on Sunday, racing each other and the field at Phoenix Raceway.

94 years ago today, Walter Hagen won his record fourth consecutive PGA Championship and fifth overall.

Why it matters: No golfer has won more PGA Championships than Hagen's five, and his 11 majors are third-most in history, trailing only Jack Nicklaus (18) and Tiger Woods (15).

The big picture: Hagen was a professional at a time when amateurs ruled the sport, and his talent and popularity helped pave the way for golf to become a true money-making venture.

• It's only fitting, then, that Hagen was the first golfer ever to earn a million dollars in his career.
• "All the professionals ... should say a silent thanks to Walter Hagen each time they stretch a check between their fingers," said fellow Hall of Famer Gene Sarazen. "It was Walter who made professional golf what it is."

Of note: Hagen's other legacy is as a Ryder Cup hero, captaining the first six American teams and playing on the first five.

Go deeper: The legacy of Sir Walter Hagen (Golf College)

Buster Posey, who retired Thursday, is one of just two players in MLB history to win MVP, Rookie of the Year and three World Series.

• Question: Who's the other player?
• Hint: Retired in 1986.

Answer at the bottom.

Source: Giphy

Well folks, here it is: The wildest sports stat of the year...

• 2021: Braves win World Series, Auburn's starting QB is Bo Nix.
• 1995: Braves win World Series, Auburn's starting QB is Patrick Nix.
• 1957: Braves (then in Milwaukee) win World Series, Auburn's starting QB is Lloyd Nix.

The bottom line: To quote the great Gwen Stefani — that s--t is bananas.