NBA 2012: Best Basketball Players You Should Be Following on Twitter
One of my favorite things about the NBA is how dominant the league is in social media compared to the other mainstream American sports.
This gives athletes an opportunity to express their honest brand and identity rather than the one that the media portrays them as and a direct ability for one-on-one interaction with their fans. This helps make the NBA more accessible and contemporary as fans quickly realize that the NBA has some blissfully entertaining NBA players online.
Each player included in this list has their (sometimes bizarre) style on Twitter, and often are known to re-tweet and take questions from their biggest fans. After following these athletes on Twitter, I wouldn't recommend letting the fun stop there!
Hit them up and engage them in conversation. That's what their Twitter is there for.
That, of course, and giving the fans some fascinating material to read. I've spent the last week (or really the last few years if you include how often I check Twitter) doing research and compiling my favorite athletes in the NBA based solely on Twitter personality.
My criteria to be included in this list: I want someone who would be an interesting follow even if they were NOT in the NBA.
That means that there a couple of quick things that I should point out before we begin:
This needs to be said right off the bat. Our NBA athlete can't tweet too much. No one wants their Twitter clogged by someone they don't really care about.
1. Must have an established following base already. I don't want any experimentation
2. Must also regularly update their Twitter; otherwise, it won't even be worth the follow.
3. Their most common average tweet must be engaging and make me smile (i.e. no "hit and miss" Twitter feeds).
4. Must also contribute inspirational quotes here and there because nothing inspires me more than checking Twitter in the morning and finding someone like Daniel Gibson trying to make me feel better.
5. Most importantly, their Twitter feeds must be funny for one reason or another.
In this piece, I'm going to let the athletes do the talking with their embedded tweets. Get ready to have your Twitter open to follow your favorites that you've read, and if you're not on Twitter yet, now may be a fantastic time to get one if you're an NBA fan. Without further ado, I present to you the unofficial list of best NBA players to follow on Twitter.
Honorable Mentions
1 of 16These are some athletes who I thoroughly enjoyed some tweets by, but was overall unable to find a spot in the Top 15 list for. That being said, I still recommending clicking their names and checking to see what they're up to in the Twitter universe. You never know where your taste in social media might get you. Plus more serious Twitters that are updated very efficiently: Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Steve Nash, Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki and Jared Dudley.
Chris Kaman
"Let the mayor know I will donate flame throwers to rid the city of mosquitoes! #Ijustwantone
— Chris Kaman (@ChrisKaman) August 20, 2012"
Marquis Daniels
"The cooks at the waffle house playing watch this by future n 2 chainz hahahahaha
— Marquis Daniels (@Marquis_Daniels) August 20, 2012"
Lamar Odom
"i just heard Larry Merchant say "mayweather has gone from a hip hop fighter2 a rapper fighter" what does that mean? lol
— LAMAR ODOM (@RealLamarOdom) May 6, 2012"
James Harden
"This weekend was a real life movie. Every scene/night was perfect. Thanks to everyone who was in the movie. Lol
— James Harden (@JHarden13) August 20, 2012"
Andre Iguodala
"I think I'm in wrong section cause everyone over here goin for china...
— Andre Iguodala (@mindofAI9) August 1, 2012"
Jon Leuer
"If u saw me struggling for leg room on a plane would u give up your exit row seat?
— Jon Leuer (@JLeu30) August 21, 2012"
15. Hasheem Thabeet: @HasheemTheDream
2 of 16Username: @HasheemTheDream
Followers: 77,120
Tweets: 6,351
Bio: Where I wanna be..
Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Age: 25
Hometown: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Fun Fact: Tweets inspirationally in all-CAPS.
My Analysis: The all-CAPS gets me right in the heart. His inspirational prose and style is one that I find myself checking often. Great follow.
Common Tweet(s)
"IF U'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE DIFFERENT, DON'T EVER CHANGE.
— Hasheem Thabeet (@HasheemTheDream) August 17, 2012"
Inspirational Tweet(s)
"EVERYBODY IS BLESSED DIFFERENTLY.. BE HAPPY AND STOP WORRYING ABOUT OTHERS AND U WILL SEE HOW MUCH U ARE BLESSED. #BEGRATEFUL
— Hasheem Thabeet (@HasheemTheDream) July 29, 2012"
"NEVER REGRET ANYTHING U WENT THRU IN YOUR LIFE, BECAUSE AT ONE TIME IT WAS EXACTLY WHAT U WANTED.
— Hasheem Thabeet (@HasheemTheDream) August 18, 2012"
Funniest Tweet(s):
"THANK GOD IM NOT TOO KOOL FOR THE SEATBELTS.
— Hasheem Thabeet (@HasheemTheDream) August 8, 2012"
14. Roy Hibbert: @Hoya2aPacer
3 of 16Username: @Hoya2aPacer
Followers: 47,069
Tweets: 3,475
Bio: Working to become the best.
Team: Indiana Pacers
Age: 25
Hometown: Queens, New York
Fun Fact: Worried about becoming a 7’2” convinct.
My Analysis: Always known for a weird twist on mainstream pop culture, except coming from a 7'2" Pacer rather than a teenage girl. Brilliant.
Common Tweet(s)
"Young people today w/ their instagram n their hipddy hop. In my day we had black planet, web shots, Nokia 3390s n snake!
— Roy Hibbert (@Hoya2aPacer) August 5, 2012"
"Do people still watch these new Step Up movies. Best one was def number 2.
— Roy Hibbert (@Hoya2aPacer) July 24, 2012"
Inspirational Tweet(s)
"Just landed back in Indy. Very thankful for the ones who love me. Everyone should appreciate who and what they have. It can be taken away
— Roy Hibbert (@Hoya2aPacer) August 11, 2012"
"Maybe I should let it go. But this dude should not have went higher than me in the '08 draft. I've been told 2 shut my mouth on naming names
— Roy Hibbert (@Hoya2aPacer) July 24, 2012"
Funniest Tweet(s):
"Tell me the truth is it weird that I don't change the radio station when One Direction's song comes on?
— Roy Hibbert (@Hoya2aPacer) August 6, 2012"
"Heard Ke$ha has "beef" w Lady Gaga cause she wears dead animals as costumes. It was all fake. Wonder how it would go down. Biggie v 2pac
— Roy Hibbert (@Hoya2aPacer) August 17, 2012"
13. Delonte West: @CharleeRedz13
4 of 16Username: @CharleeRedz13
Followers: 162,431
Tweets: 452
Bio: You already know !
Team: Dallas Mavericks
Age: 29
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
Fun Fact: Tweets about 7/11 more often than I already knew.
My Analysis: He may tweet a little too often about junk food and 7/11, but that's sort of what makes Delonte's Twitter feed golden. He can get a little graphic at times, but overall, it's a very honest Twitter feed that makes me feel like Delonte West is a friend of mine. Which is undeniably a little weird.
Common Tweet(s)
"Dude got mad in 7/11..cause I opened my bag of Doritos and put some chilli and cheese on um..I told um he mad cause he ain't think of it 1st
— Delonte West (@CharleeRedz13) June 29, 2012"
"If ya out partiin tonight...take a shot for me...enough of the ..SADE...2pac ambitionz az a ridah...chillen wit my ace-duce on!!!..boss!!
— Delonte West (@CharleeRedz13) June 24, 2012"
Inspirational Tweet(s)
"A Dwill...u need to come to Dallas mane man...we got a chance to win a championship here dog....dirk be the best playa u ever played with..
— Delonte West (@CharleeRedz13) June 28, 2012"
Funniest Tweet(s):
"Who said that chilli was gon mess my stomach up last night....u know u ain't supposed to jinx a brotha like dat...cood-gracious-alive!!!!!!!
— Delonte West (@CharleeRedz13) June 29, 2012"
12. Baron Davis: @baron_davis
5 of 16Username: @baron_davis
Followers: 642,236
Tweets: 4,137
Bio: BoomDizzle a/k/a BDiddy a/k/a 2EZ... International man of mystery, leader, mentor big brother, Big Beard... Point Guard#LAUNFD
Team: New York Knicks
Age: 33
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Fun Fact: Extraordinarily generous with who he RT’s.
My Analysis: Always been a fan of The Beard, so it was obvious that I would have followed him off the bat, but his Twitter has kept me engaged and interested for a long time coming. His philanthropic kickball games are also worth knowing about in case you're ever in the area and want to stop by to participate. Enjoy!
Common Tweet(s)
"One of my favorite indy bands at it again. Loving this new @deadlysyndrome record: thedeadlysyndrome.com/all-in-time/
— Baron Davis (@Baron_Davis) August 7, 2012"
Inspirational Tweet(s)
"Yesterday was such a great day. Humbled to be a part of opening a reading/ learning center in LA. twitter.com/Baron_Davis/st…
— Baron Davis (@Baron_Davis) August 7, 2012"
Funniest Tweet(s):
"this 405 traffick ......that's that shh I dnt like. @snoopskywalker
— Baron Davis (@Baron_Davis) August 1, 2012"
"Where there is roaches there is some bomb food. #ghettoshh
— Baron Davis (@Baron_Davis) July 29, 2012"
11. Wilson Chandler: @wilsonchandler
6 of 16Username: @wilsonchandler
Followers: 77,220
Tweets: 6,025
Bio: Livin...
Team: Denver Nuggets
Age: 25
Hometown: Bent Harbor, Michigan
Fun Fact: Listens to The Weekend, watches Arrested Development and has a fantastic taste in culture.
My Analysis: Very smart man. Chandler says he was raised by his grandparents and has an old soul because of it. I've enjoyed following Chandler for awhile. I love hearing what his new picks are with music and movies.
Common Tweet(s)
"Music and ball go hand in hand.
— Wilson Chandler (@wilsonchandler) August 14, 2012"
"Almost forgot about "Eastbound and Down" hilarious. Danny McBride is the man
— Wilson Chandler (@wilsonchandler) August 15, 2012"
Inspirational Tweet(s)
"Buy yourself a spine and give back to fronting
— Wilson Chandler (@wilsonchandler) August 15, 2012"
Funniest Tweet(s):
"Glad DJ Khaled not screaming all over his new tracks for his album. Now I properly enjoy the tracks.
— Wilson Chandler (@wilsonchandler) August 16, 2012"
10. Nick Collison: @nickcollison4
7 of 16Username: @nickcollison4
Followers: 88,541
Tweets: 1,080
Bio: Nick Collison, OKC Thunder
Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Age: 29
Hometown: Orange City, Iowa
Fun Fact: Avatar is a photoshopped image of self w/ afro and extreme facial hair
Common Tweet(s)
"Has the fake to third throw to first ever worked?
— Nick Collison (@nickcollison4) July 14, 2012"
Inspirational Tweet(s)
"We have really gone batshit crazy.
— Nick Collison (@nickcollison4) July 2, 2012"
Funniest Tweet(s):
"I got my first "hey bro, are u Michael Phelps?".Must be an olympic year
— Nick Collison (@nickcollison4) July 8, 2012"
"The guy from mens wearhouse guaranteed i would like the way I looked in their rented tux. I was skeptical.
— Nick Collison (@nickcollison4) July 3, 2012"
9. Kevin Love: @kevinlove
8 of 16Username: @kevinlove
Followers: 421,237
Tweets: 551
Bio: Spread Love http://www.facebook.com/KevinLove42
...The World As We Know It... · http://www.kl42.com
Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Age: 23
Hometown: Lake Oswego, Oregon
Fun Fact: Once he discovered Instagram, he was never the same.
My Analysis: Very engaging use of social media. Hip to not only Twitter, but Facebook and Instagram tonight. I love seeing who he's been hanging out with in the NBA, and he is very open with his relationships with players and T-Wolves moves.
Common Tweet(s)
"Project X part 2 tonight!!! @jharden13 @tysonchandler @kdtrey5 @kingjames @russwest44 @deronwilliams @carmeloanthony @cp3@mindofai9
— Kevin Love (@kevinlove) August 12, 2012"
"That awkward moment when you realize the person isn't following you on twitter anymore...
— Kevin Love (@kevinlove) June 6, 2012"
Inspirational Tweet(s)
"Surreal feel. Special moment for all of us. Gold medal. At a loss of words.#USA
— Kevin Love (@kevinlove) August 12, 2012"
Funniest Tweet(s):
"Damn you economy!!!“@googlefacts: The Olympic Gold metal is only 1.34% gold.”
— Kevin Love (@kevinlove) July 30, 2012"
"Ladies and gentlemen your Finals MVP: Mike Miller
— Kevin Love (@kevinlove) June 22, 2012"
8. Blake Griffin: @blakegriffin
9 of 16Username: @blakegriffin
Followers: 1,160,046
Tweets: 1,983
Bio: Power Forward for the Los Angeles Clippers.
Team: Los Angeles Clippers
Age: 23
Hometown: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Fun Fact: Has made videos with Bill Simmons and Rainn Wilson and put them on Twitter.
My Analysis: He is known for his dunking, but he also has a very captivating sense of humor. I've never regretted following Blake Griffin. Regardless of relevance, Griffin is able to say just the right tweet and make people smile.
Common Tweet(s)
"Bro, that's not really her. RT @cp3: Me and the lovely Queen of England! #LegoLand instagr.am/p/NymQUnyjaR/
— Blake Griffin (@blakegriffin) August 1, 2012"
Inspirational Tweet(s)
""The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do"
— Blake Griffin (@blakegriffin) April 13, 2012"
Funniest Tweet(s):
".@directv why are you trying to ruin my life and not let me watch #workaholics on comedy central? xoxo thanks
— Blake Griffin (@blakegriffin) July 19, 2012"
"Yo @viacom word is you're the reason I'm missin some channels. Let me know. Hope you're well. Thanks.
— Blake Griffin (@blakegriffin) July 19, 2012"
7. Austin Daye: @adaye5
10 of 16Username: @adaye5
Followers: 46,657
Tweets: 4,506
Bio: NBA Player For The Detroit Pistons/ Cali Native
Team: Detroit Pistons
Age: 23
Hometown: Irvine, California
Fun Fact: Needed help from @JaredDudley619 to learn how to tweet from his phone.
My Analysis: Austin Daye is a really open guy online and seems to be a very accurate representation of who he is. Often tweets about food and girls and money, which can make for some great conversation starters.
Common Tweet(s)
"thats wat every man says when he see a women, but what u think he's sayin in his head right after RT @jessicaburciaga Geeez im just looking!
— Austin Daye (@Adaye5) August 17, 2012"
Inspirational Tweet(s)
"O well guess you lose some and win some.... as long as the outcome is income!!!
— Austin Daye (@Adaye5) August 18, 2012"
Funniest Tweet(s):
"This b____ bought me a Rolex and I still ain't got no time for her!!! Lol
— Austin Daye (@Adaye5) August 19, 2012"
"@ El Pollo Loco "about to _____ this chicken up" @floydmayweather voice
— Austin Daye (@Adaye5) August 16, 2012"
6. Dwight Howard: @DwightHoward
11 of 16Username: @DwightHoward
Followers: 3,425,983
Tweets: 16,362
Bio: After the ring!
Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Age: 26
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
Fun Fact: Hasn’t tweeted in four months, but has already changed his avatar to a Lakers image.
My Analysis: He's going to tweet more once the regular season starts because that seems like what Howard does. When there's something worth talking about, he's all over it. I love his charisma and boldness. Very easy to picture him smiling the big Dwight Howard smile with each tweet.
Common Tweet(s)
"Hey Wooorld who do you see winning the 3pt contest?
— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) February 25, 2012"
"Happy new years to all my fans and family in china.
— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) January 23, 2012"
Inspirational Tweet(s)
"#Goal: When 200,000 @natchildid kits are purchased, I’ll donate another 300,000 to protect more kids bit.ly/HE9zuV #getyourstoday
— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) April 20, 2012"
"How is World Peace gonna start a FIGHT lol.
— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) January 15, 2012"
Funniest Tweet(s):
"Is there any other months besides April on twitter?
— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) April 11, 2012"
"Getting your money right? There's an app for that...
— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) March 27, 2012"
5. Tony Allen: @aa000G9
12 of 16Username: @aa000G9
Followers: 37,380
Tweets: 15,819
Bio: The Official Twitter Page of Tony Allen. From Chicago. Former Oklahoma State star. 2008 NBA Champion. Currently grinding for the Memphis Grizzlies.
Team: Memphis Grizzlies
Age: 30
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Fun Fact: Avatar reads: “The Grindfather”
My Analysis: Simply put: Tony Allen is a lot weirder than I ever thought he was. And I thought he was pretty weird. He tweets A LOT, but every once in a while, you'll get something absurd and wonderful like the tweet about the sky (below), and you'll be more than satisfied with your follow.
Common Tweet(s)
"Life should be on Cinemax /
— Tony Allen (@aa000G9) August 14, 2012"
"+oooh. She bad in.T pain voice!
— Tony Allen (@aa000G9) August 16, 2012"
Inspirational Tweet(s)
"Starts with u and ur actions!
— Tony Allen (@aa000G9) August 17, 2012"
Funniest Tweet(s):
"The sky is. Blue!!!!!!!!!!!
— Tony Allen (@aa000G9) August 15, 2012"
"S/o 2 walmart yfrog.com/odxe8ntaj
— Tony Allen (@aa000G9) August 18, 2012"
4. Nick Young: @NickSwagyPYoung
13 of 16Username: @NickSwagyPYoung
Followers: 45,960
Tweets: 1,997
Bio: Nick Swaggy P Young was born and raise N West LA Ca since 85, I got that BASE i rock chucks and wear tight jeans and o yea I play N the NBA and LOVE GOD
Team: Los Angeles Clippers
Age: 27
Hometown: Los Angeles Clippers
Fun Fact: He actually does wear tight jeans.
My Analysis: Nick Young is one of the most well-liked players in the NBA, and his Twitter feed reflects that. From West LA, went to USC and now plays for the Clippers. If you're a West Coast fan or someone from the SoCal area, something about Nick Young and his #swag is sure to strike a chord with you. Give him a shot. I love his feed.
Common Tweet(s)
"I don't always know what I'm talking about but I know I'm right.
— Nick Young (@NickSwagyPYoung) August 19, 2012"
Inspirational Tweet(s)
"all U can do in life is be who U are. Some people will love U for U. Most will love U 4 what U can do 4 them, & some wont like U at all.
— Nick Young (@NickSwagyPYoung) August 19, 2012"
Funniest Tweet(s):
"McDonald's has the best Oatmeal!!!
— Nick Young (@NickSwagyPYoung) August 20, 2012"
"Chick-fil-A is so bomb!!!!
— Nick Young (@NickSwagyPYoung) August 10, 2012"
3. Daniel Gibson: @BooBysWorld1
14 of 16Username: @BooBysWorld1
Followers: 141,216
Tweets: 7,403
Bio: All Booking pr@c6sports.com .. God over Everything.. Family over Everything Else!! Instagram: BoobysWorld #BoobyGang
Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Age: 26
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Fun Fact: His background image includes a photos of both 2pac and Allen Iverson.
My Analysis: Sleeper pick for one of the best NBA Twitters ever. His brilliance was unexpected from the moment that I first gave him a follow. This guy simply doesn't think like other people do. Great Twitter. A+ without question.
Common Tweet(s):
"Dat Massage I just got... ThankYou Baby Jesus!!
— Daniel Gibson (@BooBysWorld1) August 18, 2012"
"BREAKING NEWS: please alert ya LA fire department. Booby Gibson is headed to the Gym AGAIN.. 🏀🔥
— Daniel Gibson (@BooBysWorld1) August 17, 2012"
Inspirational Tweet(s):
"Don't wait for the world to recognize your Greatness. Live it & let the world catch up to you!
— Daniel Gibson (@BooBysWorld1) August 15, 2012"
"You can sit around and wait for it to happen or you can be the one who made it happen...
— Daniel Gibson (@BooBysWorld1) August 12, 2012"
Funniest Tweet(s):
"I gotta go to the movies to see Sparkle before I buy the bootleg. I support both sides.The hood gotta eat too. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
— Daniel Gibson (@BooBysWorld1) August 18, 2012"
"Hot wings are proof that Jesus is real
— Daniel Gibson (@BooBysWorld1) August 13, 2012"
2. Metta World Peace: @MettaWorldPeace
15 of 16Username: @MettaWorldPeace
Followers: 444,927
Tweets: 4,458
Bio: Manager
Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Age: 32
Hometown: Queens, New York
Fun Fact: He is currently following only one person on Twitter, and his avatar is Yo Gabba Gabba.
My Analysis: Had a legitimate chance at earning the No. 1 ranking before he deleted all of his tweets and followers simply to "start over," but that's just Metta (which explains why so many of his finest tweets are missing, e.g. when he asked if the world has improved since he changed his name). You never know what to expect.
Years ago, he put his phone number online to help kids with their math homework. Last week, he threw a party and everyone was allowed to go so long as they wore a bathing suit. If you don't follow him, you're making a mistake.
Common Tweet(s):
* = Actually Memorial Day
"I wanna see who my funniest fan is... Where y'all at ??
— Metta WorldPeace (@MettaWorldPeace) August 15, 2012"
Inspirational Tweet(s):
"Where can I go to play some ball in China?And where can I go to party?
— Metta WorldPeace (@MettaWorldPeace) August 15, 2012"
Funniest Tweet(s):
* = James Harden
1. JaVale McGee: @JaValeMcGee34
16 of 16Username: @JaValeMcGee34
Followers: 65,106
Tweets: 7,531
Bio: Pierre=Alter Ego 4th year in NBA for the Denver Nuggets I RT myself cuz what i say is that important! and cuz i can instagram:bigdaddywookie
Fun Fact: Actually has his own alter ego on Twitter and calls himself Pierre. He RT’s himself by calling himself P in tweets always written in all caps.
Team: Denver Nuggets
Age: 24
Hometown: Flint, Michigan
My Analysis: More so than anyone else on this list, JaVale McGee's Twitter makes the list of potential favorite Twitter's period. He says the absolute weirdest things out of anyone that I follow on Twitter and only tweets by re-tweeting himself. He's open with his fans, sometimes too open about his life and sometimes I wonder if he's from the same planet as me. All in all, he has everything I'm looking for in a Twitter and more.
Common Tweet(s):
"RT @javalemcgee34 THEY OPINION LIKE ESCALADES, EVERYBODY GOT ONE!- @2chainz
— JaVale McGee (@JaValeMcGee34) August 15, 2012"
"RT @javalemcgee34 FEMALES TALK THE MOST STUFF ON TWITTER! SMH! MODERN DAY DIARY!-P
— JaVale McGee (@JaValeMcGee34) August 14, 2012"
Inspirational Tweet(s):
"RT @javalemcgee34 GOD BLESS U ALL! HOPE Y'ALL ACCOMPLISHED WHAT U SET OUT TO ACCOMPLISH AND GOT ALL BUSINESS HANDLED THAT NEEDED TO B DONE!
— JaVale McGee (@JaValeMcGee34) August 15, 2012"
"RT @javalemcgee34 STAY BLESSED
— JaVale McGee (@JaValeMcGee34) July 26, 2012"
Funniest Tweet(s):
"RT @javalemcgee34 I HATE AVOCADO AND GUACAMOLE AND I'VE NEVER EVEN TASTED IT B4.... #thatshowitbesometimes
— JaVale McGee (@JaValeMcGee34) August 4, 2012"
"RT @javalemcgee34 I ONLY LOVE HER IF HER WEAVE NEW!
— JaVale McGee (@JaValeMcGee34) August 6, 2012"
"RT @javalemcgee34 They almost took my brass knuckle iphone case away! Whew!
— JaVale McGee (@JaValeMcGee34) July 20, 2012"
But don’t just take my word for it. Here are 21 more reasons you should be following him on Twitter.
Bryan Kalbrosky is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. His favorite topics for him to write about are are the Oregon Ducks, New York Mets, pop culture and the NBA. He is an avid social media junkie and is passionate about JaVale McGee's Twitter feed. Be sure to give Bryan Kalbrosky a follow as well.









