Basketball is undoubtedly one of the most popular sports in America. It is a favorite amongst Americans for the sheer thrill that the sport provides.
Given its immense popularity, the sport has grown by leaps and bounds with many new teams and franchises emerging over the decades. The NBA, which started with 11 teams in 1946, has about 30 teams at present.
While these teams enjoy the support of American masses, the basketball culture has gone on to spread its winds and gain popularity all across the globe. In this article, we will talk about the five most popular American basketball teams. Let’s have look at these basketball teams one by one!
Los Angeles Lakers
When it comes to popularity and fan-following, the Los Angeles Lakers team certainly claims the top spot.
The team represents the highly populated and beautiful city of Los Angeles and is supported by a large mass of basketball enthusiasts. The Lakers are a team so famous that you can often find troves of celebrities lining the front rows of these games.
The Los Angeles Lakers have won as many as 16 championships since they came to existence many decades ago.
At present, the team is estimated to have more than 19 million fans, which is the highest of any basketball team in the NBA.
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls, the basketball team that represents the city of Chicago, ranks second when it comes to fan following.
This team has won a total of 6 championships to date, though its golden spell was between 1991 and 1998 when it won them all in a back-to-back fashion.
Despite the Bulls not winning a championship since then, their popularity has soared thanks to their consistent performances.
Today, the Chicago Bulls enjoy an 18 million strong fan-base.
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a relatively young team without the burden of a long legacy. However, its stunning performances have earned it a place amongst the favorite basketball teams of America.
The team first rose to popularity in 2006, when it won its maiden NBA Championship.
There has been no looking back for the Miami Heat since then, as the team went into four back to back NBA finals and won the championships in 2012 and 2013.
The team, with its present composition and performance, is supported by more than 15 million fans.
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets is yet another American basketball team with a humongous fan following.
The team was founded in 1967, as the San Diego Rockets, and it moved to represent Houston in 1971. However, it was in 1994 that the Rockets won their first NBA title and went on to repeat the feat in 1995, as well.
An interesting fact about the Houston Rockets is that star players like Moses Malone and Olajuwon reached their peak during their time with the team.
Today, the Houston Rockets have over 13 million fans.
Boston Celtics
Representing the amazing city of Boston, the Celtics are one of the NBA’s original 8 teams. It was founded in the year 1946.
The Boston Celtics have been the NBA Champions 17 times, the highest for any team.
This also makes the Boston Celtics one of the most successful teams in the history of the league.
At present, the team’s fan-base is comprised of more than 9 million Americans, which puts it amongst the top American basketball teams.
The Bottom Line
While these are the five most popular basketball teams in America, there are at least two dozen more teams with large fan bases.
If you're a fan of the game, then these are certainly the teams to watch out for. They each boast some of the world's top players and hold some impressive titles.
