We are living in the social media era, where people all over the world are getting connected with a push of a button. The days of losing contact with people are long gone, and there is never an excuse not to reach out to friends and family consistently. As expected, the presence of social media has manifested itself in professional sports, especially the NBA. More than ever, NBA players are far more aware of how they are coming across to the world than ever before. Whether it is what they say or how they dress, the NBA has become a social sport.
- 10. Lonzo Ball – 18.1 Million Followers
- 9. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 20.3 Million Followers
- 8. Klay Thompson – 20.9 Million Followers
- 7. James Harden – 23.4 Million Followers
- 6. Chris Paul – 25.8 Million Followers
- 5. Kyrie Irving – 29.2 Million Followers
- 4. Russell Westbrook – 34.4 Million Followers
- 3. Kevin Durant – 44.9 Million Followers
- 2. Stephen Curry – 77.8 Million Followers
- 1. LeBron James – 221.6 Million Followers
That is why so many players are dressing so… outwardly and also focusing on their off-court endeavors. Sure, there is a ton of money being made in today’s game, and sponsors are always on the lookout for a chance to add brand ambassadors, but players truly enjoy connecting to fans through social media. The most obvious player that comes to mind is Kevin Durant, a player who famously got caught with a “burner” account to debate hoops with fans. But where does Kevin Durant rank among the top NBA players in terms of total followers?
What about other fan-favorite NBA stars such as LeBron James and Stephen Curry? Do they have the most followers around the world? By taking into account Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram followers, here are the 10 current NBA players with the most social media followers.
10. Lonzo Ball – 18.1 Million Followers
Instagram – 15.8 Million
Twitter – 1.3 Million
Facebook – 1 Million
Even before Lonzo Ball became an NBA player, he had incredible publicity going from the Big Baller Brand led by his father, LaVar Ball. With all the hype coming his way, Lonzo took that and became a star before he even entered the NBA. So much so that the Los Angeles Lakers took him No. 2 overall and expected him to be their next Magic Johnson. That didn’t quite pan out, although Ball still has plenty of time to realize his potential as he currently plays for the Chicago Bulls.
Lonzo is a social media star, and his younger brother LaMelo is also slowly becoming one. But Lonzo has had time to build his profiles, showcasing an array of fashion, lifestyle, and basketball-related content. Ball knows he will be in the spotlight for the rest of his career, and he doesn’t seem to mind because he is just living his life and bringing out content for NBA fans worldwide to follow.
9. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 20.3 Million Followers
Instagram – 14.1 Million
Twitter – 2.8 Million
Facebook – 3.4 Million
Giannis Antetokounmpo is just a great guy, plain and simple. He is extremely humbled by his beginnings and knows where he came from to where he is right now. A Greek player of Nigerian descent, Giannis had it the hard way. He scraped and clawed his way to realize his potential, and now he and his family are reaping the benefits. There simply isn’t a better feel-good story among top NBA stars than Giannis’. At only 28 years of age, Giannis has already accomplished a lot in the NBA.
A two-time MVP and former NBA champion, Giannis’ bubbly and smiley personality has brought in millions of people to follow him across social media platforms. Antetokounmpo loves posting positive things, comedic comments, and videos and is always looking to spread a laugh. It is no wonder why he has over 20 million followers, and his accounts seem to grow by the year as he gets more comfortable being a superstar in America.
8. Klay Thompson – 20.9 Million Followers
Instagram – 14.4 Million
Twitter – 1.8 Million
Facebook – 4.7 Million
One of the pioneers of the three-point shot and a player who helped change the game alongside Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson has built a massive following for being a member of the Golden State Warriors. What the Warriors have done to basketball is iconic because, until today, teams are trying to recreate what Steph and Klay have done. As teams try to shoot threes, Klay Thompson and the Warriors just continue laughing their way to championships.
Even as great as Klay is on the basketball court, he is a witty character who has a large following on Instagram. He is not afraid to post about basketball, his trips on yachts and boats, and just about anything that crosses his mind. Klay Thompson realizes that he is living the life and wants people to get an insight as to what makes him so enigmatic, funny, and just down to earth.
7. James Harden – 23.4 Million Followers
Instagram – 11.6 Million
Twitter – 7.7 Million
Facebook – 4.1 Million
James Harden is a pure baller and one of the most skilled guards to have ever played the game. Can anybody remember a time when a player was triple and quadruple-teamed up the court when Harden was with the Houston Rockets? An elite scorer, Harden helped change the league in terms of being a player who takes a ton of three-pointers and draws a ton of fouls. Like it or not, the NBA has changed for good.
We all know James Harden is a terrific basketball player, but why does he have so many followers? One answer: lifestyle. The Beard is an enigmatic figure who seems to love his own version of fashion and isn’t afraid to show it. Sometimes, his clothing is way off, but Harden doesn’t care and just lives his life. James also loves his music, so appearing in skits with Lil Baby and Lil Durk certainly helps his profile among younger audiences. As a confident personality with a rather massive beard, James Harden is one interesting player to follow.
6. Chris Paul – 25.8 Million Followers
Instagram – 11.5 Million
Twitter – 8.4 Million
Facebook – 5.9 Million
Chris Paul has to go down in his own Hall of Fame for having the best commercials of any NBA player ever. His State Farm commercials are simply hilarious, and there is no denying the current Phoenix Suns point guard has a future as an actor. He is funny to watch, and CP3 plays the role brilliantly each time. There can’t be a better ambassador for State Farm than Chris Paul.
At the same time, Paul is one of the best leaders in the NBA and also an outspoken figure on social issues. A natural-born leader, Paul has had a Hall of Fame career as one of the all-time great point guards but also proved that he is strong enough to speak his mind. As one of the most respected players in the NBA, fans and media members love Chris Paul, and his social media platforms are often filled with comments from people all around the world as a result.
5. Kyrie Irving – 29.2 Million Followers
Instagram – 18.2 Million
Twitter – 4.7 Million
Facebook – 6.3 Million
Kyrie Irving is one unique fellow, and hence, he has a massive social media profile. Irving is a thoughtful person who can come across as quirky, but that seems to resonate with a ton of people who prefer listening to other points of view. Now, Irving does fly off the handle a little bit and rub many people the wrong way, but that just comes with the territory of speaking your mind and being different than others.
Irving’s followers do not all agree with him, as it is certain that a decent percentage of them love to hear and disagree with what the point guard says. But there is no doubt that Kyrie is a thoughtful person who is also one of the most skilled and exciting players the league has ever seen. What Kyrie does on the court makes news, and that translates off the court with his opinions and ideas, so it is no wonder why he is among the top-5 players in the NBA in total followers.
4. Russell Westbrook – 34.4 Million Followers
Instagram – 21.4 Million
Twitter – 6.9 Million
Facebook – 6.1 Million
Russell Westbrook is one of the most polarizing and interesting personalities the NBA has ever seen. In his prime, he was one of the greatest players ever at his position and a physical force at his size, unlike anyone else. Of course, becoming the triple-double king just made him all that more interesting. Not to mention, is there a funnier player ever when it comes to interviews and press conferences?
Russ has a tough guy attitude in the NBA, and it seems to earn him respect from most people. But off the court, he is a wonderful family man who also doesn’t mind engaging in unique clothing styles as well. Westbrook makes sure that his persona of not caring what other people think shines through, and his social media profiles are filled with some of the most unique clothing sense you will ever find. It is no wonder why he has over 30 million followers across Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
3. Kevin Durant – 44.9 Million Followers
Instagram – 13.2 Million
Twitter – 20.7 Million
Facebook – 11 Million
Kevin Durant, Mr. Burner Account himself, has the third-most followers of any NBA player. How could a player so “hated” on social media be so popular? You know the saying, all publicity is good publicity. Durant has admitted that he loves logging into social media to debate and challenge fans, and he does care what others say about him. Some might call it insecurity, but it might stem from the fact that Kevin is truly a very nice guy who simply loves basketball.
There is no doubt that Durant is a once-in-a-lifetime talent, and his skills have captivated millions of NBA fans around the world. But Durant happily engages with fans, and he seems to enjoy the banter and back-and-forth with the audience. The fact that Durant is willing to be a “villain” at times and also engage with fans directly means his popularity on Instagram and Twitter will only continue to grow.
2. Stephen Curry – 77.8 Million Followers
Instagram – 48.6 Million
Twitter – 17.2 Million
Facebook – 12 Million
Stephen Curry, the Babyfaced Assassin, is one loveable person. He is as humble as they come off the court, gives credit to other players whenever possible, and is just himself when he is outside of a basketball arena or with his celebrity wife, Ayesha Curry. The Currys are truly one power couple, and the NBA Universe seems infatuated with them. Steph, in particular, has a gravitational pull about him.
He isn’t 6’6” and bulky like most NBA players, has a baby face, and speaks in a humble tone. How could one of the best players in the game today have all that going for him? At the same time, Curry is cocky and flamboyant on the basketball court, and that is where his other side comes out. The point guard has captivated the NBA audiences with his shooting for years, and his social media profiles are also filled with hilarity, fun times with his family, and addicting sponsor appearances.
1. LeBron James – 221.6 Million Followers
Instagram – 142 Million
Twitter – 52.6 Million
Facebook – 27 Million
LeBron James is the NBA’s biggest superstar, make no mistake about it. Even if James is past his prime at 38 years old and is no longer a top-5 player in the world, his impact off the court is simply unreal. James’ charitable activities and pristine off-court image make him a true wonder of an athlete, and he deserves all the praise, success, and power he has coming his way. After all, James worked hard to become the man he is today.
But LeBron is also the most interesting athlete in NBA history. He always has something to say about other players and the game of basketball itself, and he is never shy of speaking his mind! He is a fan of uplifting other players, and while some fans and media critics challenge him on that because “Michael Jordan would not do that”, this is James’ nature, and he wants to let the entire world know about it. Even the iconic “Taco Tuesday” videos became a worldwide hit despite not it getting trademarked, showing the social media reach of one of the game’s greatest-ever players that has over 220 million followers on all platforms.
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