The Los Angeles Lakers’ bench watch the Chicago Bulls defeat them in a NBA basketball game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. on Sunday, February 10, 2014. (Photo by Sean Hiller/ Daily Breeze).

The Lakers haven’t just become unwatchable because of the persistent losing and the never-ending injuries.

It’s also become hard to watch the Lakers take the hardwood namely because national television broadcasts have shown less interest in showcasing them. In what will mark the Lakers’ third dropped national telecast this season, the NBA announced that ESPN will no longer broadcast the Lakers-Brooklyn Nets game on Feb. 23 at Staples Center.

ESPN also pulled the Lakers’ loss Jan. 8 in Houston, while TNT passed on the Lakers’ loss Jan. 20 in Chicago, decisions that both stem from Kobe Bryant staying sidelined with a fractured left knee and the Lakers remaining in the Western Conference cellar.

The Lakers originally had 25 national television appearances scheduled, including five on ABC, 10 on ESPN and 10 on TNT. Should Bryant return after the All-Star break or the Lakers begin an unexpected run, Lakers games could emerge back on the national telecasts. A team can make a maximum of 10 appearances on ESPN and TNT per season, opening the possibility for ESPN, TNT and the NBA to decide later to add a game that wasn’t originally planned.

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com