The San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat and, to a lesser extent, the Indiana Pacers have been by far the dominant teams in their respective divisions during the 2013-14 NBA season. The performance of a single season, however, does not make any significant change in the huge fan base that virtually every team enjoys. The high popularity of NBA team fan pages on Facebook is a clear indication of their relative popularity. Here we will order the teams according to the number of LIKES on their respective FB fan pages:
20. Memphis Grizzlies (Western Conference – Southwest; 1,066,404 likes)
Currently ranking third in their division, the Grizzlies sneak into this list with just over 1 million likes on Facebook. The great performance of players like Marc Gasol and Mike Conley this season has been instrumental in increasing the popularity of the team a little more.
19. Detroit Pistons (Eastern – Central Conference; 1,113,930 likes)
Although the team is currently on a 4 game losing streak, the fans evidently back the Pistons to the fullest. It remains to be seen if Greg Monroe and his men can make the most of this loyal fan base and start showing some magic on the court!
18. Phoenix Suns (Western Conference – Pacific; 1,450,862 likes)
The Suns’ popularity on FB reflects their performance on the field this season, well, nothing special. No doubt the team would like to top off a slightly disappointing 2013/14 and put on a better show next time.
17. Portland Trailblazers (West-Northwest Conference; 1,462,682 likes)
Less than 13,000 likes on Facebook separate the Trailblazers from the Phoenix Suns; that’s how close is the popularity of some of the NBA teams. The team currently trails Oklahoma City in its division, and would very much like to make up lost ground. For a popular team like the Trailblazers, a single NBA crown is embarrassing!
16. Denver Nuggets (Western Conference – Northwest; 1,618,838 likes):
A 36-46 win-loss record is bad enough, but that hasn’t affected the hype and hoopla around the Nuggets. For a team that is second from bottom in its division currently, over 1.6 million likes on FB is an impressive return.
15. Cleveland Cavaliers (East-Central Conference; 1,633,239 likes)
Only if Jarrett Jack and his teammates had put in a more consistent performance would the Cavaliers not have been forced to sit content with a mid-table position. The fans are firmly behind the club, and it is about time they had something to smile about.
14. Golden State Warriors (Western Conference – Pacific; 1,899,974 likes)
The Splash brothers have done a good job of keeping the Warriors more than competitive (they are second in their group this season) of late. The team won the NBA title for the second (and to date, last) time in 1975, and they’d be desperate to add more trophies to their kitty.
13. Brooklyn Nets (Eastern Conference – Atlantic; 1,969,789 likes)
Surprisingly, Jason Kidd’s team is a long way from making the top ten on this list. The Nets have always been a struggling team, and even this time around, they’re giving Toronto a great run for their money.
12. Indiana Pacers (Eastern – Central Conference; 2,029,811 likes)
The eight-time division winners are also comfortably at the top of the Central group this time around. Whether it’s at Bankers Life Fieldhouse or on online social media, this is a team that has never lacked for the support of fans around the world.
11. Houston Rockets (Western Conference – Southwest; 2,196,303 likes)
His win-loss has been relatively good this season, and that has also given his Facebook following a boost. However, fans would have loved to see the Dwight Howard-s and Terrence Jones-s to bring the team a little closer to the San Antonio Spurs.
10. Orlando Magic (East-Southeast Conference; 2,391,586 likes)
Despite the horrible form on the field, Orlando Magic fans are firmly on the side of the team. However, for a team that featured celebrity-turned players like Shaquille O’Neil, the lack of trophies of late must surely hurt.
9. Los Angeles Clippers (Western Conference – Pacific; 2,472,078 likes)
First in the division, but still far from entering the top-5 of this list. The club was founded in 1970, and under current coach Doc Rivers, the team has dominated the Pacific division for two years in a row. Now, that’s one hot shape!
8. Dallas Mavericks (Western Conference – Southwest; 3,472,221 likes)
The 2011 Championship winners failed to ignite the courts with their performances this season. That, however, has barely had any effect on the team’s Facebook fan base. The number of followers is almost up to 3.5 million!
7. San Antonio Spurs (Western Conference – Southwest; 3,710,340 likes)
Leader of the pack in the Southwest bracket, with over 3:1 win-loss ratio. It’s no surprise that the owners of four championships have such a huge following on Facebook. If anything, the total number of Spurs fans around the world increases every season.
6. Oklahoma City Thunder (West-Northwest Conference; 4,282,042 likes)
Once again, they have topped their group, which has given their fans a lot to talk about. This year, the total number of division titles in the Thunder’s trophy room reached double figures, and fans are sure to expect many more to come.
5. New York Knicks (Eastern Conference – Atlantic; 5,090,937 likes)
Compared to their own lofty standards, the NY Knicks have underperformed this year. However, Andrea Bargnani, Toure Murry and the others have the ability to turn things around next season. One thing is for sure: the encouragement of the fans will be abundant!
4. Boston Celtics (Eastern Conference – Atlantic; 8,263,059 likes)
We’re in the top 4 now, and the Celtics are fourth when it comes to Facebook popularity. While this season’s performance hasn’t been anything to write home about, the team certainly has the track record (17 NBA titles, most recently in 2008) to remain competitive every year.
3. Miami Heat (East-Southeast Conference; 13,206,264 likes)
Rocking the field and winning new fans: That seems to be the Miami Heat mantra this season. However, considering the Miami Heat have a sizable lead in their division this season, it wouldn’t have been surprising if the Heat had managed to grab top honors on this list!
2. Chicago Bulls (Eastern Conference – Central; 14,368,870 likes)
Can the Chicago Bulls catch the Indiana Pacers this time? While the chances of that remain slim, there’s no mistaking the popularity of DJ Augustin’s gear. He ranks second on this list, with nearly 14.5 million Facebook LIKES.
1. Los Angeles Lakers (Western Conference – Pacific; 19984888 likes)
It’s the best time! Standing at the threshold of 20 million likes on Facebook, the LA Lakers justify their stature as one of the most followed teams in the league. There are even dedicated mobile apps from the team on the Play Store. On Facebook, the Lakers are the most liked NBA team today. The only thing that irritates? He’s entrenched at the bottom of his division this season!
The Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, and Miami Heat are the only three NBA teams that have managed to amass an 8-figure following on their Facebook fan pages. Interestingly, 4 of the top 5 ‘most popular’ teams are from the Eastern Conference. There are sure to be teams moving up and down the pecking order of this list over time, and other teams could be involved as well. For example, the Minnesota Timberwolves are ranked 21st, not far behind the Memphis Grizzlies.
What’s the NBA without fan-mania, anyway?