Being an NBA fan means experiencing highs and lows, often within the span of a single season. With trade rumors, injuries, and playoff heartbreak, it’s no surprise that some fanbases tend to feel the weight of these challenges more than others.
This ranking is based on a combination of recent team performance, historical success, playoff droughts, and the overall mood surrounding each franchise. Let’s take a look at the 30 NBA fanbases, from the least to most depressed.
30. Boston Celtics
The Celtics have a proud history of success with 18 championships, the most in NBA history. And, after winning last year’s Championship, the Celtics’ legacy keeps their fanbase from descending too far into despair.
29. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors have had an extraordinary run in the 2010s and into the 2020s, securing multiple championships with stars like Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. After a brief down period due to injuries, they bounced back strong, and their fanbase remains among the happiest in the league.
28. Los Angeles Lakers
Even though the Lakers are coming off a disappointing stretch after their 2020 championship, they still have LeBron James and now Luka Dončić leading them. Historically, no franchise has been as successful, and even in tough times, Lakers fans are confident the team will eventually find success.
27. Denver Nuggets
With MVP-caliber talent like Nikola Jokić and a solid supporting cast, the Nuggets have had one of the most consistent teams in recent seasons. After finally securing a championship in 2023, Denver fans are in a place of joy and excitement.
26. Phoenix Suns
The Suns have a solid foundation with Devin Booker and a playoff-contending roster. After their appearance in the 2021 Finals, the fanbase remains hopeful about future success, despite the occasional hiccups.
25. Milwaukee Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s success has transformed the Bucks into a championship contender and a fanbase brimming with hope. After winning the NBA Finals in 2021, Milwaukee is riding high with their superstar leading the charge.
24. Toronto Raptors
The Raptors’ 2019 championship has brought a lot of pride to Canada’s NBA fanbase, and though their team has been through ups and downs, they remain optimistic about the direction they are heading.
23. Miami Heat
Miami’s success has been largely built on a culture of resilience and a deep commitment to winning. With multiple championships in the past two decades, Heat fans have seen their team contend and remain optimistic about the future.
22. Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls’ historical legacy and the glory days of Michael Jordan keep their fanbase hopeful. However, recent years of mediocrity have made them a little more anxious, even though there’s still optimism about a return to playoff contention.
21. Philadelphia 76ers
The process has been long and painful for 76ers fans. The hopeful days of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons are behind them, but a more stable core featuring Embiid and James Harden still gives the fanbase hope. However, their continued playoff disappointments weigh heavily on them.
20. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs are still riding the high of their 2016 championship, but with LeBron James gone, they’ve struggled to maintain competitiveness. However, they’ve seen progress with young stars like Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, which helps to lift their spirits somewhat.
19. Detroit Pistons
After their championship runs in the early 2000s, the Pistons have fallen into a long stretch of mediocrity and rebuilds. Their fanbase is exhausted from constant losing seasons, but things are really looking up these days.
18. Utah Jazz
Utah fans had a brief moment of hope during their playoff runs with Donovan Mitchell, but after his departure and a full rebuild, the Jazz are now focusing on developing their future stars. While the future looks bright, the current state is a bit of a grind.
17. Sacramento Kings
The Kings had a 16-year playoff drought, the longest in NBA history. However, their recent return to the playoffs and the development of young stars like De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis gives their fanbase a reason to be cautiously optimistic for the future.
16. Indiana Pacers
The Pacers have always been a competitive team but have struggled to make deep playoff runs in recent years. Still, the solid core and young talent give their fanbase a sense of cautious optimism.
15. San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs fanbase has experienced unparalleled success in the 2000s, with five championships, but things have been more rocky recently. Still, optimism remains because of young stars like Victor Wembanyama, and Spurs fans are confident that their franchise’s winning culture will eventually guide them back to relevance.
14. New York Knicks
Knicks fans are well-accustomed to disappointment. Their last championship came in 1973, and despite occasional bursts of excitement, their overall lack of success makes their fanbase perpetually anxious, though they remain passionate.
13. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder’s rebuild has been a painful process after the departures of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. But with a young, promising roster led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC fans are beginning to feel better about their future, though it’s still a rough ride.
12. Brooklyn Nets
After years of dramatic trades, the Nets now find themselves in a rebuild after the Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant eras. While they remain competitive, the lack of a true superstar keeps the fanbase in a constant state of uncertainty.
11. Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets have some exciting young talent, particularly LaMelo Ball, but have been largely irrelevant in terms of playoff contention. Their fanbase has been stuck in a state of perpetual hope mixed with frustration.
10. Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks have had flashes of greatness, including a surprising run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021, but inconsistent performances have kept their fanbase on edge. Trae Young’s brilliance gives them hope, but their overall team performance leaves something to be desired.
9. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves have been plagued by poor team-building decisions and long playoff droughts. Despite having talent like Anthony Edwards, they haven’t been able to put it all together, at least not yet.
8. Orlando Magic
After years of rebuilding, Orlando is slowly beginning to show promise with young players like Paolo Banchero. However, the Magic’s playoff absence and long road to relevancy make for a fanbase that feels more frustrated than hopeful.
7. Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers’ fanbase has been on an emotional rollercoaster since the Kawhi Leonard era began, but injuries and playoff failures have made it hard to sustain optimism. Their history of playoff disappointments has left fans unsure about the future.
6. New Orleans Pelicans
Despite having Zion Williamson, one of the most promising young talents in the league, the Pelicans have been plagued by injuries and inconsistency. Their fanbase is tired of the false starts and endless waiting for a team to break through.
5. Houston Rockets
The Rockets are in the midst of a rebuild after trading away James Harden, and while they have some exciting young players like Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr., the constant losing has taken its toll on their fanbase’s optimism.
4. Dallas Mavericks
Dallas fans are still recovering after losing their superstar Luka Dončić. In fact, it’s hard to say if they’ll ever get over this loss. While they still have star power in Kyrie Irving and now Anthony Davis, it’s safe to say they’re feeling a little blue right about now.
3. Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis fans were riding high just a few seasons ago with their “Grit and Grind” culture, and the emergence of Ja Morant made them hopeful. However, his off-court issues and the team’s inconsistent performance have left their fanbase reeling.
2. Portland Trail Blazers
After years of Dame Lillard-led playoff runs that ended in disappointment, Blazers fans are now facing the reality of a rebuilding team without their superstar. The future looks uncertain, and the fanbase is filled with sadness about the lack of playoff success.
1. Washington Wizards
The Wizards have been stuck in basketball purgatory for years—never quite bad enough for a full rebuild, but never good enough to contend for a title. Their loyal fanbase has grown weary of the constant mediocrity.