The Lakers were the NBA's No. 1 team on social media before LeBron James’ arrival this summer, and NBA social media rankings through September reveal he has expanded their lead. The Lakers have nearly 35 million total followers, including a league-leading 7.3 million followers on Twitter. They led the league with nearly 400,000 new followers last month alone, but the Rockets added around 275,000 followers -- more than double the Lakers’ rate of growth. Combined, the Lakers’ and Warriors’ total number of followers is roughly equal to the total of the entire bottom half of teams in the league. Meanwhile, James’ social media following has led the NBA for several years, and it has expanded even more with his move to L.A. He has more than 60 million more total followers than Warriors G Stephen Curry, who ranks second. Data from HookIt also reveals that for nine of the top 10 players ranked, Instagram is home to their greatest number of followers. For more social media metrics such as this, check out www.resourceguidelive.com (RG Live).
|
NBA PLAYER SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWING AS OF OCT. 1
|
|
RANK
|
PLAYER
|
TOTAL
|
TWITTER
|
FACEBOOK
|
INSTAGRAM
|
|
1
|
Lakers F LeBron James
|
107.3M
|
41.5M
|
23.2M
|
42.6M
|
|
2
|
Warriors G Stephen Curry
|
43.4M
|
12.8M
|
8.2M
|
22.1M
|
|
3
|
Heat G Dwyane Wade
|
30.4M
|
7.8M
|
11.0M
|
11.5M
|
|
4
|
Warriors F Kevin Durant
|
27.9M
|
17.3M
|
10.4M
|
105,700
|
|
5
|
Thunder G Russell Westbrook
|
21.9M
|
5.7M
|
4.9M
|
11.2M
|
|
6
|
Rockets F Carmelo Anthony
|
20.8M
|
9.1M
|
5.4M
|
6.3M
|
|
7
|
Rockets G Chris Paul
|
20.5M
|
7.7M
|
4.8M
|
8.1M
|
|
8
|
Celtics G Kyrie Irving
|
19.4M
|
4.2M
|
3.1M
|
12.1M
|
|
9
|
Rockets G James Harden
|
15.1M
|
5.9M
|
1.1M
|
8.1M
|
|
10
|
Wizards C Dwight Howard
|
13.6M
|
6.8M
|
4.7M
|
2.1M
|
|
11
|
Spurs F Pau Gasol
|
13.4M
|
7.5M
|
4.5M
|
1.4M
|
|
12
|
T'wolves G Derrick Rose
|
13.2M
|
2.5M
|
10.6M
|
106,500
|
|
13
|
Thunder F Paul George
|
12.2M
|
2.0M
|
3.4M
|
6.8M
|
|
14
|
Pistons F Blake Griffin
|
11.9M
|
4.4M
|
3.9M
|
3.6M
|
|
15
|
Warriors G Klay Thompson
|
9.3M
|
1.2M
|
2.5M
|
5.6M
|
|
16
|
Trail Blazers G Damian Lillard
|
9.1M
|
1.6M
|
2.7M
|
4.7M
|
|
17
|
Wizards G John Wall
|
8.6M
|
1.9M
|
2.5M
|
4.3M
|
|
18
|
Hawks G Jeremy Lin
|
8.4M
|
2.5M
|
3.7M
|
1.6M
|
|
19
|
Cavaliers F Kevin Love
|
8.1M
|
3.2M
|
1.9M
|
3.0M
|
|
20
|
Lakers G Rajon Rondo
|
7.4M
|
1.7M
|
4.7M
|
1.0M
|
|
21
|
Pelicans C Anthony Davis
|
7.0M
|
1.5M
|
2.4M
|
3.1M
|
|
22
|
Lakers G Lonzo Ball
|
6.8M
|
867,500
|
640,000
|
5.3M
|
|
23
|
Mavericks F Dirk Nowitzki
|
6.8M
|
3.4M
|
2.9M
|
562,500
|
|
24
|
Nuggets G Isaiah Thomas
|
5.9M
|
1.6M
|
706,100
|
3.7M
|
|
25
|
Hornets G Tony Parker
|
5.7M
|
2.2M
|
3.1M
|
403,000
|
|
NBA TEAM SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWING AS OF OCT. 1
|
| RANK |
TEAM |
FOLLOWERS |
TWITTER |
FACEBOOK |
INSTAGRAM |
| 1 |
Lakers |
34.9M |
7.3M |
21.5M |
6.0M |
| 2 |
Warriors |
27.4M |
5.9M |
11.3M |
9.6M |
| 3 |
Bulls |
26.0M |
4.0M |
18.1M |
3.8M |
| 4 |
Heat |
23.3M |
4.6M |
15.5M |
3.0M |
| 5 |
Cavaliers |
18.9M |
3.3M |
8.8M |
6.8M |
| 6 |
Rockets |
16.0M |
2.7M |
10.5M |
2.8M |
| 7 |
Celtics |
15.4M |
3.3M |
9.0M |
3.1M |
| 8 |
Thunder |
13.4M |
2.6M |
7.2M |
3.6M |
| 9 |
Spurs |
12.9M |
3.4M |
7.2M |
2.3M |
| 10 |
Knicks |
9.9M |
2.1M |
5.9M |
1.8M |
| 11 |
Kings |
8.4M |
996,100 |
6.6M |
804,00 |
| 12 |
Clippers |
7.1M |
1.4M |
3.8M |
1.9M |
| 13 |
Mavericks |
6.8M |
1.5M |
4.4M |
864,600 |
| 14 |
Pacers |
5.8M |
1.1M |
3.3M |
1.3M |
| 15 |
Raptors |
5.6M |
1.7M |
2.3M |
1.5M |
| 16 |
Magic |
4.9M |
1.5M |
2.8M |
698,900 |
| 17 |
Trail Blazers |
4.7M |
1.1M |
2.4M |
1.1M |
| 18 |
76ers |
4.6M |
1.6M |
1.7M |
1.3M |
| 19 |
Nets |
4.5M |
899,200 |
2.7M |
854,500 |
| 20 |
T'Wolves |
4.0M |
896,000 |
1.9M |
1.2M |
| 21 |
Suns |
3.7M |
1.0M |
1.9M |
822,200 |
| 22 |
Bucks |
3.7M |
921,900 |
1.6M |
1.1M |
| 23 |
Hawks |
3.7M |
1.2M |
1.6M |
841,200 |
| 24 |
Pelicans |
3.6M |
857,100 |
1.7M |
1.0M |
| 25 |
Hornets |
3.5M |
893,200 |
1.8M |
877,800 |
| 26 |
Nuggets |
3.5M |
817,200 |
2.0M |
677,500 |
| 27 |
Pistons |
3.4M |
861,500 |
1.8M |
744,400 |
| 28 |
Grizzlies |
3.4M |
955,600 |
1.8M |
601,600 |
| 29 |
Jazz |
3.3M |
859,200 |
1.8M |
662,400 |
| 30 |
Wizards |
3.3M |
884,800 |
1.5M |
884,000 |
