During the current 78th NBA season the Denver Nuggets seek to defend their championship, the first in the team’s history. It’s probably not surprising, then, that the team boasts the league’s fastest growing fanbase.
To compile a list of the fastest growing fanbases in the NBA, 24/7 Tempo reviewed a study of the subject published by Betway, an online sports betting site. The site ranked every team in the league by comparing the growth in their Instagram followers over the one-year period ranging from September 2022 to September 2023.
The Nuggets lead the pack with the largest bump – nearly 33%. Still, because they don’t have the glittering history of other NBA teams, and have been overshadowed in their hometown by the three-time Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos of the NFL, their fanbase of 2.4 million is the eighth-smallest among the 30 NBA teams.
In total, 21 NBA teams have had Instagram follower increases of 10% or more. NBA royalty is supported by some of the largest legions of followers. The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers are tied for the most championships in NBA history with 17 each and both are among the top five NBA teams in size of fanbase. (Here’s a list of all the most popular teams in pro sports.)
The Golden State Warriors won the franchise’s seventh title in 2022, defeating the Celtics and breaking a tie with the Chicago Bulls for third-most championships. The Warriors have nearly 32 million followers, by far the most of any franchise. Speaking of the Bulls, the Michael Jordan legacy has helped boost the Chicago team’s number of Instagram followers to fifth-most among NBA clubs. (Jordan, not surprisingly, is one of the most popular NBA MVPs of all time.)
Keeping the faith are the fanbases of the Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings, and Indiana Pacers, all of whom are in the top 10 in growth of Instagram followers, even though they are three of the 10 NBA teams that have not won a league title.
Here is a list of the fastest growing fanbases in the NBA.
30. Washington Wizards
- Instagram followers:1,500,000
- Instagram follower growth, September 2022-September 2023:4.14%
29. Charlotte Hornets
- Instagram followers:2,200,000
- Instagram follower growth, September 2022-September 2023:6.05%
28. Toronto Raptors
- Instagram followers:4,000,000
- Instagram follower growth, September 2022-September 2023:6.47%
27. New Orleans Pelicans
- Instagram followers:2,700,000
- Instagram follower growth, September 2022-September 2023:7.29%
26. Oklahoma City Thunder
- Instagram followers:5,800,000
- Instagram follower growth, September 2022-September 2023:7.68%
25. Utah Jazz
- Instagram followers:1,300,000
- Instagram follower growth, September 2022-September 2023:7.82%
24. Houston Rockets
- Instagram followers:6,200,000
- Instagram follower growth, September 2022-September 2023:7.95%
23. Detroit Pistons
- Instagram followers:1,500,000
- Instagram follower growth, September 2022-September 2023:8.17%
22. Brooklyn Nets
- Instagram followers:4,900,000
- Instagram follower growth, September 2022-September 2023:9.90%
21. Milwaukee Bucks
- Instagram followers:5,300,000
- Instagram follower growth, September 2022-September 2023:10.29%
20. Los Angeles Clippers
- Instagram followers:4,900,000
- Instagram follower growth, September 2022-September 2023:11.50%
19. Minnesota Timberwolves
- Instagram followers:2,900,000
- Instagram follower growth, September 2022-September 2023:12.13%
18. Boston Celtics
- Instagram followers:7,500,000
- Instagram follower growth, September 2022-September 2023:12.28%
17. New York Knicks
- Instagram followers:3,900,000
- Instagram follower growth, September 2022-September 2023:12.89%
16. Portland Trail Blazers
- Instagram followers:2,900,000
- Instagram follower growth, September 2022-September 2023:12.92%
15. Atlanta Hawks
- Instagram followers:2,500,000
- Instagram follower growth, September 2022-September 2023:13.10%
14. Miami Heat
- Instagram followers:6,600,000
- Instagram follower growth, September 2022-September 2023:13.34%
13. Orlando Magic
- Instagram followers:1,800,000
- Instagram follower growth, September 2022-September 2023:13.47%
12. Los Angeles Lakers
- Instagram followers:23,300,000
- Instagram follower growth, September 2022-September 2023:14.20%
11. Chicago Bulls
- Instagram followers:9,900,000
- Instagram follower growth, September 2022-September 2023:14.51%
10. San Antonio Spurs
- Instagram followers:4,900,000
- Instagram follower growth, September 2022-September 2023:16.45%
9. Indiana Pacers
- Instagram followers:3,000,000
- Instagram follower growth, September 2022-September 2023:16.70%
8. Sacramento Kings
- Instagram followers:2,100,000
- Instagram follower growth, September 2022-September 2023:17.22%
7. Philadelphia 76ers
- Instagram followers:4,200,000
- Instagram follower growth, September 2022-September 2023:19.32%
6. Memphis Grizzlies
- Instagram followers:1,800,000
- Instagram follower growth, September 2022-September 2023:20.29%
5. Cleveland Cavaliers
- Instagram followers:16,400,000
- Instagram follower growth, September 2022-September 2023:21.25%
4. Golden State Warriors
- Instagram followers:31,700,000
- Instagram follower growth, September 2022-September 2023:22.40%
3. Dallas Mavericks
- Instagram followers:3,700,000
- Instagram follower growth, September 2022-September 2023:25.23%
2. Phoenix Suns
- Instagram followers:3,400,000
- Instagram follower growth, September 2022-September 2023:25.44%
1. Denver Nuggets
- Instagram followers:2,400,000
- Instagram follower growth, September 2022-September 2023:32.69%