Soccer isn't really blowing up. It's as popular as ever... just outside of the States. After the World Cup, no one gave a shit anymore.
As far as the NBA is concerned, a little guy named Mike changed that game forever (I think he was in a movie with Bugs Bunny). Chris Rock even cites it himself: there's no "star" in baseball. They don't like individuality. Yasiel Puig could be that, but they keep censoring him. I'll tell you this: I've lost interest. And it ain't so much the game. I just don't like how they conduct business. Hell, the NFL is the worst, but is the most popular in America, BY FAR, because of the product they put on the field.