NBA Power Rankings: The Most Passionate Fan Bases
If you travel from city to city, every fan base will claim it is the most passionate. It’s human nature. Unfortunately, only one team can be right, so which one is it?
Which group of fanatics gives their team the biggest advantage? Which sixth man provides the biggest impact?
Putting bias aside, let’s take a look at all 30 teams and decide once and for all who has the league’s most impassioned fans.
30. Sacramento Kings
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During the Chris Webber/Vlade Divac era, Kings games were a sight to behold. The crowd was raucous and the stadium was filled to capacity. That’s no longer the case as the Kings average just 13,334 fans per game on the season after averaging 13,254 just a season ago.
DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans give this team a bright future, but Sacramento fans don’t seem to be all that interested in the present.
29. New Jersey Nets
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Despite Mikhail Prokhorov’s exorbitant spending (like a massive billboard in the middle of New York City) the "Nyets" are failing to attract fans. Perhaps their new stadium in Brooklyn will draw a crowd, but fans don’t seem particularly interested in watching bad basketball.
Of the 30 teams in the league, New Jersey ranked 29th in attendance percentage (average attendance divided by the stadium’s capacity). Perhaps winning more than 12 games this season could help boost ticket sales.
28. Philadelphia 76ers
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The 76ers lack a bonafide superstar (sorry A.I.) and fan’s don’t seem particularly interested in watching this conundrum of a team.
Despite a rich history that includes Wilt Chamberlain and Doctor J, the 76ers have struggled to draw fans.
Their average attendance of 14,224 last season ranked 26th in the league, and they rank dead last in attendance percentage this season.
27. Washington Wizards
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Last season, attendee figures were low for the Wizards and who can blame them? Their star player, Gilbert Arenas, was suspended on a gun charge, while fellow building blocks Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler were shipped off around the trade deadline.
But then a ray of light struck the nation’s capital. They landed the No. 1 pick and drafted the electric John Wall. These attendance woes? They would be a thing of the past. Or would they?
The Wizards 14,801 average attendance ranks 23rd in the league despite ranking eighth in road attendance. Fans are willing to pay to see the Wizards flashy new rookie—just not in Washington.
26. Memphis Grizzlies
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The Grizzlies have an exciting young core of players including Rudy Gay, O.J. Mayo, Mike Conley and Zach Randolph. They are improving every season and will compete for a playoff spot in the far superior Western Conference. So where are the fans?
The Grizzles—a team that desperately needs a new nickname—ranked third to last in attendance last season. Memphis failed to fill the stadium to three-quarters capacity and is proving that the new market is no better than the previous one.
25. Toronto Raptors
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Canada’s lone ball club is tough to rank. The Raptors' 16,046 average attendance ranks puts Toronto in the middle of the pack and, despite losing Chris Bosh, they’ve only seen their ticket sales trail off slightly.
Still, watching Toronto play, you get the feeling that fans are just waiting for maintenance to remove the hardwood, Zamboni the ice, and drop the puck for a Maple Leafs game.
The games lack the passion that ensures a home-court advantage.
24. Minnesota Timberwolves
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The Wolves rank 21st in attendance this season, which comes as a huge shock to me. After all, GM David Kahn actually placed an advertisement in which he stated that the team would not compete for a title this season.
With a slew of young players but no true franchise players (and this is coming from a Kevin Love fan), T’Wolves fans deserve a bit of respect.
This is a team that has won only 65 games since the start of the 2007 season. I’d be impressed if even a thousand fans showed up in Minnesota, so kudos for showing up.
23. Charlotte Bobcats
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Teams have always struggled in Charlotte. After all, that’s the reason the Hornets moved to New Orleans.
The Bobcats rank 22nd in the NBA in attendance and seem to have an utterly disconnected fan base, even with recent success.
The ‘Cats won 44 games last season and made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history while producing a stupendous 31-10 home record. It’s too bad not many people were there to see it.
22. New Orleans Hornets
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To me Chris Paul ranks amongst the most exciting players to watch in the NBA. He is an exciting distributor who finds imaginative ways to create for himself and his teammates.
Paul is easily worth the price of admission, yet Hornets fans don’t flock to the stadium to see their star player. Maybe it’s the lack of history in New Orleans, but the lack of fan support is utterly disheartening.
Chris Paul was injured last season and the team finished 23rd in attendance. This season the team is off to a fantastic start and CP3 looks like a legitimate MVP candidate. So why has attendance actually declined? Like acclaimed director Tommy Wiseau, it just doesn’t make sense.
21. Indiana Pacers
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The folks from Hoosier-ville have been struggling to sell tickets this season despite a much-improved team. The Pacers are looking like a playoff team in the early going but still rank 26th in attendance.
Indianapolis is a basketball town and I’ve seen fans turn out in droves in the past. Here’s hoping the Pacers supporters start showing up again.
20. LA Clippers
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If I were a basketball fan living in Los Angeles, I might prefer to see a Clippers game over a Lakers game. Sure you won’t see a win when you pay to see Donald Sterling’s boys (although they did shock the Spurs last night), but you will get to see Blake Griffin and that is more than worth the price of admission.
Griffin threw down four highlight-reel dunks last night and seems to find a new way to excite the crowd every night. Strangely, the Clippers attendance figures are down slightly from last season although their ranking jumped from 20th to 17th.
19. Atlanta Hawks
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The Hawks fans are a complete and utter embarrassment. There I said it.
Despite an explosive young offense featuring the high-flying Josh Smith along with fellow studs Al Horford, Jamal Crawford and Joe Johnson, the Hawks can’t seem to draw a crowd.
Their 16,545 average last season ranked 18th in the league and this year they have dropped down to 25th in attendance with a 14,060 average.
18. Detroit Pistons
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Back in the day, the Palace was a rocking place to watch a game. Whether it was the Isaiah Thomas Pistons of the 80’s or Chauncey Billups team from earlier this decade, Detroit knew how to fill a stadium. It would appear that time has come to an end.
With an odd mish-mosh of overpaid veterans and decent young talent, Detroit is a team without a plan. Are they building around Greg Monroe and Rodney Stuckey or are they trying to win now with Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince?
The Pistons rank 16th in attendance, however, their 73.7-percent seating capacity puts them in the league’s bottom three. Do yourself a favor Joe Dumars. Dump Prince and Rip and find a sucker willing to take on Ben Gordon’s contract. Then let the re-building begin.
17. Milwaukee Bucks
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The Bucks have one of the most exciting young players in the league with Brandon Jennings and one of the most fundamentally sound centers in the league (if you’re into that type of thing). So why is it they can’t outdraw the lowly Raptors?
The fans who do show up seem quite vocal, yet they have struggled with attendance despite a rapidly improving team. Their new slogan is: "Fear the Deer. But a more appropriate alternative might be: “Don’t be a prick, buy a tick.”
16. Miami Heat
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You’d think having LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade would put fans in the stands. During last night’s tilt against the Pistons, empty seats were plentiful, proving once again that Miami is not a basketball town.
The numbers may say that Miami is selling tickets at a record pace and I don’t doubt that. However, just take time to look around the stadium. Even as they sell out 100 percent of the tickets, the arena has been a far cry from capacity. Not exactly the most passionate fan base.
15. Denver Nuggets
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It will be interesting to see what happens if ‘Melo leaves town. Nuggets attendance is around the league average, although I’ve always thought the fans in Denver lacked any passion (mostly based on a bad experience at a Rockies game when I was told to sit down in the ninth inning of a two-run game).
Will fans jump ship if Anthony gets traded? Only time will tell.
14. Phoenix Suns
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Having seen games in Phoenix, I can vouch for the fact that it’s not really a basketball environment. Music plays over the loudspeakers while the game is being played and it’s more reminiscent of a dance party with basketball in the background than a real athletic event.
The Suns are one of the league’s most exciting offenses and Steve Nash can keep even a casual fan interested, which could help explain the Suns average attendance of 17,661.
13. Orlando Magic
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Despite having one of the best teams in basketball and one of the most exciting players in Dwight Howard, the Magic lack fan support.
Playing in Florida in front of tourists and senior citizens, it’s tough for Orlando to produce a consistent crowd. The Magic's 17,461 average attendance ranks them 17th in the league, but the fans who do show up seem to be passionate about their team.
12. Cleveland Cavaliers
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Despite the loss of LBJ, the Cavs rank second in the league in attendance. Now whether these are just from season ticket holders who forgot to sell their seats after LeBron took his talents to South Beach or what is irrelevant.
A tip of my hat to all Clevelanders who have endured years of sports hell, yet continue to flock to the stadium
11. New York Knicks
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I’d love to have the Knicks higher. After all, we all know how passionate New York fans can be. Still, I’ve seen Knicks fans show up to games with paper bags on their heads and I’ve seen fans toss their jerseys onto the court in total disgust.
Because I remain true to my team win or lose, I can’t respect a fan base that does that and New York gets docked for that (although if Isaiah Thomas had been my team's GM, I would be a little more than frustrated as well).
Even with last season’s woeful team, the Knicks finished fifth in attendance and have remained at No. 5 this season. Kudos for supporting a losing team, but the self-deprecation during the Isaiah years cost the Knicks in my book.
10. Oklahoma City Thunder
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A new-and-young fan base, the Thunder crowds were insane during last season’s playoff series against the Lakers.
The team may have only been in town for a few years, but it seems to be growing up along with the team's young talent.
They lack any roots in the city, but the 18,000 fans that show up at the Oklahoma City Arena (no corporate sponsorship yet) are loud and proud.
9. Golden State Warriors
22 of 30The Warriors currently rank 11th in attendance, but it’s not that figure that earns Golden State a spot in the top 10.
During he 2007 playoffs, the Oracle Arena was rocking so hard you could feel it at home. ESPN charted the decibel level and ascertained that it was on par with a rock concert. In all my years watching professional basketball, I had never seen a crowd so passionate about its team.
Part of that was based on the Warriors prolonged postseason hiatus, but I have to give it up for the spirited fans of Golden State.
8. San Antonio Spurs
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Spurs fans are passionate, vocal and flock to the stadium for every game. The Spurs rank 10th in attendance this season after ranking 10th last season. Every season, Spurs fans show up.
They make the playoffs every year and fans continue to buy tickets. Somehow they don’t tire of winning. It’s like the bizarro Atlanta Braves.
7. Houston Rockets
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The Rockets average only 16,528 fans per game, good for 19th in the league. By all means, the Rockets wouldn’t make the list of top 10 fan bases except for the presence of Yao Ming.
The 7’6" center gives Houston an enormous share of the steadily growing Asian market and makes the Rockets a world-wide brand name.
Their games are broadcast overseas to millions and even billions of people, which earns Houston a top 10 ranking.
6. Dallas Mavericks
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Mark Cuban does a better job than any owner at promoting his ball club. He’s willing to debase himself for attention and his various giveaways and promotions have been essential for populating the American Airlines Center.
The Mavs currently rank fourth in attendance, although they don’t have the largest stadium. Perhaps the more telling statistic is the 104.1 attendance percentage.
They somehow manage to oversell the games and convince people to take standing-room-only tickets. And for that they earn their title as passionate fans.
5. LA Lakers
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The Lakers rank seventh in attendance and are renowned for having the most expensive tickets in the league. Part of that is driven by the celebrity culture, but I will give credit where credit is due.
Jerry Buss has helped put a great product on the floor and fans have passionately shown up to cheer on their team for years.
4. Chicago Bulls
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Ranking first in the NBA in attendance this season is the Chicago Bulls. Da Bulls pack more than 20,000 people into the stadium every game despite failing to land LeBron or Wade this offseason and seeing their big signing (Carlos Boozer) ride the pine in street clothing for the first month of the season.
Chicago fans are often overlooked, but they are amongst the most enthusiastic fans in the game.
3. Boston Celtics
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A few years ago, Mike Bibby called out Celtics fans, saying they were merely bandwagon jumpers. While nearly everybody in Boston took exception to this claim (to this day Bibby is booed mercilessly when he comes to town) there was a shred of truth to it.
While Celtics fans may be the loudest in the game and sell out nearly every game, it wasn’t always that way. Sure you had the frenzied fans of the 80s, but god knows how much nose candy those people were hopped up on.
Before the big three arrived in town, this team was led by Paul Pierce, Al Jefferson and a ton of young question marks. The team posted the league’s second-worst record and fans stopped coming. You would be lucky if a quarter of the stadium was filled back then.
Hell, one time they started an MVP chant for Kobe Bryant! As a diehard fan it sickened me.
These days things are different and Celtics fans are fierce and fervent. But without loyalty through the bad times, a team can’t earn the title of most passionate fan base.
2. Portland Trail Blazers
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The Blazers rank third in attendance at home, fifth on the road, and seem to have zealous fans all over the country.
This is the same team that once held a record-setting 814 consecutive sellouts from 1977-1995. Not only is that the record for basketball, it’s the longest such streak in professional sports history.
If that doesn’t deserve a spot in the top two on the list, I don’t know what does.
1. Utah Jazz
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Maybe it’s because there is nothing else to do in Utah, but the Jazz fan base is extremely passionate and have become the gold standard for basketball enthusiasts across the nation.
Utah ranks sixth in attendance and seems to rank amongst the top 10 year in, year out. The stadium is built to feel like the fans are hovering over the players, energizing their home team while intimidating the competition.
Every year they post phenomenal home records and have proven to be nearly unbeatable at the Energy Solutions Arena.
They’re the sixth man every team wished it could have and makes for an obvious choice for most passionate fan base.
