As the NBA Cup makes its way onto the scene, one thing is clear: not all fans are feeling the excitement.
We dove deep into the data from Reddit comments and Google searches to get a real sense of where the fans stand — and spoiler alert, even those who seem more interested aren't exactly hyped.
Here's a breakdown of how each team's fanbase is reacting to this new addition to the NBA calendar.
Our approach was straightforward — analyze fan interactions on Reddit and gather Google search data to see who’s talking about the NBA Cup. Fans were then given a score between 1 to 10, with 1 indicating low engagement and 10 representing almost total disinterest!
Teams Least Interested in the NBA Cup
Pulling from a mix of social media buzz and search trends, here’s the lowdown on the teams whose fans care the least:
- Memphis Grizzlies (1.46): Grizzlies fans exhibit the least interest, with Reddit mentions at 0.033% and Google searches totaling 170.
- Orlando Magic (1.67): Magic fans aren't spellbound, showing minimal Reddit engagement (0.017%) and Google interest with 720 searches.
- New Orleans Pelicans (1.81): Laid-back with 0.030% on Reddit and 140 Google searches, Pelicans' fan interest is subdued.
- Charlotte Hornets (2.03): Hornets' excitement is low, with 0.019% on Reddit and 390 Google searches.
- Utah Jazz (2.34): Harmonizing around tradition, Jazz fans talk about the NBA Cup in only 0.039% of comments, alongside 110 Google searches.
- Dallas Mavericks (2.56): Reddit mentions are at 0.045%, and Google searches total 1,000, indicating tepid support.
- Miami Heat (2.63): Known for passion, yet only 0.050% on Reddit and 720 Google searches show interest.
- Houston Rockets (2.69): Rockets fan excitement is lukewarm, 0.049% Reddit and 1,000 Google searches suggest.
- Detroit Pistons (2.95): Sticking to regular games, Pistons fans engage 0.065% on Reddit, with 320 Google searches.
- Chicago Bulls (3.03): With a storied past, Bulls’ focus on cups is minimal; Reddit 0.031%, Google at 590 searches.
- San Antonio Spurs (3.03): Consistent with a low-hype tradition; Reddit engagement at 0.061%, with 1,000 Google searches.
- Milwaukee Bucks (3.09): With eyes on championship runs, Bucks show 0.038% Reddit and 260 Google searches.
- Oklahoma City Thunder (3.11): No storm brewing over the Cup, with 0.061% Reddit appearance and 140 Google searches.
- Washington Wizards (3.12): Wizards contain their magic; Reddit is 0.045%, Google searches total 320.
- Atlanta Hawks (3.30): Focused on playoffs over cups; they register 0.065% on Reddit and 390 Google searches.
- Phoenix Suns (3.57): Suns fans engage at 0.052% Reddit and 320 Google searches.
- Philadelphia 76ers (3.58): Staying playoff-focused, 76ers’ Reddit is 0.073%, with 480 Google searches.
- Indiana Pacers (3.64): Pacers fans measured in with Reddit at 0.049% and 320 Google searches.
- Minnesota Timberwolves (3.71): Not howling for the Cup; Reddit sits at 0.055%, Google searches total 260.
- Sacramento Kings (4.23): Known for their passionate fanbase, Kings fans are playing it cool with only 0.034% NBA Cup chatter on Reddit and 2,400 Google searches.
- Los Angeles Clippers (4.76): Clippers fans aren't exactly setting off fireworks over the Cup, showing up in 0.052% of Reddit comments, mirrored by 2,400 Google searches.
- Toronto Raptors (4.85): Raptors fans, basking in recent successes, have 0.050% engagement on Reddit and show steady focus with 1,000 Google searches related to the Cup.
- Brooklyn Nets (5.06): Nets fans, with aspirations beyond the Cup, are relatively quiet, making the NBA Cup pop up in only 0.053% of Reddit discussions and 1,300 Google searches.
- New York Knicks (5.37): The patient Knicks supporters are less involved with Cup excitement, mentioning it in 0.063% of Reddit discussions and a matching 1,300 Google searches.
- Denver Nuggets (5.45): Exhibiting low-key confidence, Nuggets fans still bring notable presence with 0.089% of Reddit mentions and 320 Google searches.
- Cleveland Cavaliers (5.46): While Cavs fans are generally lukewarm, they show significant presence with 0.146% on Reddit, balanced by 390 Google searches.
- Portland Trail Blazers (5.47): Portland fans, favoring traditional playoffs over new contests, register a noteworthy 0.128% on Reddit, countered by 170 Google searches.
- Los Angeles Lakers (5.86): Lakers fans, bred on championship tastes, prefer the regular season spotlight, with a Reddit presence at 0.089% and 2,400 Google searches.
- Golden State Warriors (7.25): Warriors fans bring high chatter at 0.136% on Reddit, though the overall enthusiasm dims, with 2,400 Google searches.
- Boston Celtics (10.00): Leading in engagement, yet general interest isn’t strong; 0.169% Reddit, 590 Google searches.
The Disinterest Trend
Interestingly, even the Boston Celtics — the team with the "most interest" score at 10.00 — aren't that into it. This points toward a general theme that while some teams may rank higher, actual interest across the board is lukewarm. Fans, it seems, are more aligned with traditional NBA seasons and rivalries than embracing this new cup challenge.
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Methodology
Here’s how we got to the bottom of the NBA Cup's reception:
- Data Collection: We gathered a massive amount of data from over 2 million Reddit comments in NBA discussions and looked at Google search volumes for “NBA Cup” in each team’s state.
- Data Processing and Analysis: We normalized the data, cleaned it, and matched the discussions to search analytics to create a fair scoring metric for each team.
Search volume is an average over the course of 12 months up until October 2024. Search volumes were pulled at the end of November, as Google only provides data up until the previous month.
The 'interest score' was calculated by applying an equal weighting to the % of Reddit comments and Google search volumes for NBA cup, and converting these to a score out of 10.
You can find the full dataset here.
In conclusion, while the NBA Cup is a novel concept, engaging fanbases appears to be an uphill task. These insights are just a snapshot of current sentiment, and there’s always room for strategies to boost interest. Whether this cup grows into a fan favorite or fades into obscurity will depend on how the NBA and teams engage with their communities moving forward.
