Top Five Most Loyal Fan Bases in the NBA

The National Basketball Association, usually called the NBA, has had some difficulty in recent years. The sport has had a waning amount of interest because of a wide range of factors, not the least of which is a very bad perception of the typical NBA player and their off the court conduct. In the most recent NBA Finals the league and its commissioner David Stern most certainly got their dream matchup. The Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers showdown helped bring television ratings up by a large amount from other recent years. It was a classic old school match up which appealed to most basketball fans across the country and even the world. Time will tell if the NBA can use that series to boost its image in the coming years or if it will be a temporary blip. One thing is for sure, during the last few years where many cities have shown apathy for their professional basketball, there are a few clear winners in the most loyal fan base category in the NBA.

Top Five Most Loyal Fan Bases in the NBA

5. Golden State- The Warriors fans haven't had a lot to cheer about for quite a few years now, but some recent positive steps and a nice young nucleus of players provide hope for the future of this team. The fan base in Golden State has been very supportive even in their down years, with attendance figures still ranking in the top six or eight in the NBA most every season. The Warriors fans showed how loud and disruptive they can be when they helped propel the team to a stunning upset two years ago over the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs.

4. Cleveland- Cleveland fans are known to be pretty loyal, especially when it comes to their Browns, but the Cavs get plenty of love from the city as well. No doubt the fact that the LeBron James fell into their lap a few years ago has done wonders for the fan base, but this base has proven over time to be a very loyal bunch. If LeBron does test the free agent market when his contract expires it will be interesting to see how fans react.

3. Dallas- The fans in Dallas have been filling the seats in the last few years just as well as almost anyone. The team has had quite a bit of success, at least in the regular season, so the attendance isn't shocking. If one watches a Mavericks game they will understand though that this fan base is crazy about its team. The arena gets very loud and the fans are very intelligent about their basketball.

2. Detroit- The chants of "Detroit Basketball" ring out at the Palace at Auburn Hills at every single home game. The fans here absolutely love their basketball and most importantly, their Pistons. The Pistons have always been known as a tough team who makes the other team work hard for its points, and the fan base is very appreciative of this. Not convinced that the Detroit fans care a lot about their team? The Pistons have been either first or second in attendance in each of the last six years. Quite an impressive stat.

1. Chicago- Though the city is often known for its love of the Cubbies, the Bulls have a very loyal backing in Chicago. Maybe the team can thank the great runs of the 1990's and Michael Jordan for jump starting their fan base, but even as those stars have retired these fans continue to show up and support their team. Chicago has ranked in the top two in attendance in each of the past three years despite having a couple of rather down seasons. These fans have shown they show up regardless of the team's star power.

There are the top five most loyal fan bases in the NBA. Think your city has a beef and should be on this list? Let me know why your city belongs on this list!