In the world of professional basketball, fan satisfaction often hinges on team success. While some teams thrive, providing their supporters with plenty of reasons to cheer, others find their fanbases in a perpetual state of frustration and disappointment.
This article ranks the NBA teams with the most beleaguered fanbases, exploring their records, challenges, and the glimmers of hope that keep loyalty alive amid adversity.
15. Indiana Pacers
Despite recent success, Pacers fans have endured years of mediocrity. The team’s last conference finals appearance was in 2014, and they’ve struggled to advance in the playoffs since. However, their current 30-23 record and fourth place standing in the Eastern Conference offer hope for a brighter future.
14. Brooklyn Nets
The Nets’ fanbase endures perpetual disappointment. After a star-studded era ended in failure, they’re now mired in mediocrity. With a 20-34 record, they’re struggling to make the play-in tournament. Despite recent defensive improvements, their future remains uncertain, leaving fans in a state of basketball purgatory.
13. Cleveland Cavaliers
Despite recent success, Cavs fans carry the weight of LeBron’s departures and years of mediocrity. They’ve tasted glory but struggle with consistency. Currently sitting atop the Eastern Conference with a 44-10 record, hope is high, but the specter of past disappointments looms large. Luxury tax concerns threaten to disrupt their promising core.
12. Atlanta Hawks
Despite recent playoff appearances, Hawks fans endure persistent mediocrity. The team’s inability to attract superstar free agents and advance deep into the playoffs frustrates the fanbase. With only one championship in 1958 (as the St. Louis Hawks) and no Finals appearances since moving to Atlanta in 1968, Hawks supporters yearn for sustained success and relevance in the NBA landscape.
11. Orlando Magic
Despite being ranked among the NBA’s most loyal fanbases in 2017, Magic fans have endured years of mediocrity. As of 2025, the team sits at 27-29, struggling to break .500. A 2022 study found Magic fans get the least return on investment of any NBA fanbase, highlighting the ongoing frustration for Orlando basketball devotees.
10. Washington Wizards
The Wizards’ fanbase is enduring a historically bad 2024-25 season, with the team on pace for one of the worst records in NBA history. Averaging just 16,340 fans per home game (third-worst in the league), Washington’s rebuilding process has been painful. The team’s 16-game losing streak and frequent blowout losses have left fans desperate for any sign of improvement.
9. New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans’ fanbase endures constant disappointment. With a dismal 13-42 record this season, injuries plague star players like Zion Williamson and Dejounte Murray. Former All-Star DeMarcus Cousins even suggested the team might be “cursed.” Years of unfulfilled potential and health issues have left fans wondering if they’ll ever see sustained success.
8. Detroit Pistons
The Pistons’ fanbase has experienced a dramatic turnaround in fortunes. After enduring the longest single-season losing streak in NBA history last year, they’ve rebounded to a 29-26 record. Led by All-Star Cade Cunningham, Detroit now sits in the 6th seed, offering hope to a once-dejected fanbase. This unexpected success has lifted them out of the depths of NBA misery.
7. Denver Nuggets
Despite recent success, including their first NBA championship, Nuggets fans have endured years of playoff disappointment. However, their misery has significantly decreased. With a talented core led by Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray, Denver now boasts one of the league’s most exciting teams, transforming from perennial underachievers to title contenders.
6. Charlotte Hornets
Hornets fans are enduring another dismal season, with the team sitting at 13-39 and 14th in the Eastern Conference. Plagued by injuries, poor shooting, and a 10-game losing streak, Charlotte’s struggles have continued under first-year coach Charles Lee. The franchise hasn’t made the playoffs since 2016, leaving fans desperate for a turnaround.
5. Los Angeles Clippers
Despite recent success, Clippers fans endure ongoing heartbreak. The team’s collapse against the Lakers and Pacers in February 2025, coupled with the unpopular Terance Mann trade, has reignited frustrations. Coaching concerns and recurring issues like blown leads and defensive lapses continue to plague the franchise, testing fan loyalty and patience.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves
Despite recent improvements, Timberwolves fans endure persistent heartbreak. With only two playoff series wins in 30 years, they ranked fourth in ESPN’s NBA Misery Index. However, the team’s current 31-25 record and third place in the Northwest Division offer a glimmer of hope for long-suffering supporters.
3. New York Knicks
Despite recent success, Knicks fans endure ongoing misery. The team’s 36-18 record in 2024-25 offers hope, but decades of disappointment linger. MSG Network’s streaming battle threatens game access, while Draymond Green predicts “15 more years of misery” for the fanbase, highlighting the persistent struggle of Knicks supporters.
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2. Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns fans rank among the NBA’s most annoying, placing sixth in a recent study. Their misery stems from consistent playoff disappointments and a current 26-28 record. Despite high expectations with stars like Booker, Durant, and Beal, the team struggles to meet fan aspirations, leading to frustration and front-running behavior.
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1. Sacramento Kings
The Kings’ fanbase endures ongoing misery, with no playoffs since 2006 and a potential trade of star player De’Aaron Fox looming. Despite a brief resurgence in 2022-23, the team’s fortunes have dipped again, sitting at 28-27 in the 2024-25 season. The curse continues, leaving fans wondering if success will ever return to Sacramento.
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