NBA teams to support and those to avoid

So you enjoy watching the NBA and all of the thrills, action and dunks that come with it but you don’t actually have a side to support? We’ve got you covered.

Below are five teams that would be a perfect fit for a budding basketball fan and five you should definitely avoid.

Teams to support:

Phoenix Suns: With the inevitable rise of future superstar, Devin Booker, the Phoenix Suns have potential soar in the coming years. He’s only 20 years old and already scored 70 POINTS in a single game earlier this season (becoming just the sixth player in history to do so). He will become a household name to those outside basketball circles in years to come, so get on board early before that happens!

Milwaukee Bucks: The Greek Freak, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks in points, rebounds, assists, steals AND blocks. He’s 22, unstoppable, made his all-star debut this year and is making the Bucks a desirable team to support. He’s got international appeal and will become one of the faces of the NBA.

The Bucks also have a loveable Aussie sealer on their roster, Matthew Dellavedova. Keep an eye out for him!

New Orleans Pelicans: Despite not making it past the first round of the playoffs, since 2008, and being named after an incredibly unintimidating bird, there is plenty of hype around New Orleans. They’ve now got one of the best frontcourts in the league with the combination of Boogie (DeMarcus Cousins) and the Brow (Anthony Davis) which is likely to make them an attractive side for big name free agents.

Charlotte Hornets – Have true star power as they are owned by Michael Jordan. The dynamic duo of Kemba Walker and Nicolas Batum also indicates a strong team. As a clincher, rumour has it that Charlotte will be the only team in the comp next season wearing Jordan brand jerseys (that’s pretty awesome).

Toronto Raptors: Unlike the other teams listed, the Raptors are already true competitors in the league! They have had the same win/loss record as Cleveland this season and finished third in the Eastern Conference. Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan are one of the best back court combinations in the NBA and when they’re ‘in the zone’ they’re hard to stop!

Teams to avoid:

Golden State Warriors: The Warriors have become the most mainstream team in the comp. and have become even more appealing since the signing of Kevin Durant. They have been the ‘go to’ team for fickle fans to support since Steph Curry won Most Valuable Player (MVP) and led them to the championship in 2014.

Cleveland Cavaliers: The star power of LeBron James makes Cleveland an easy team to choose for any ‘wannabe’ supporter. They are reigning champions and just like the Warriors, if you decide Cleveland is your team people are going to assume you are chasing easy success!

Los Angeles Lakers: The Lakers have been sub-par for a number of seasons now and coincidentally they don’t seem to have the same number of fans they once did. Although recent form suggests you would be willing to settle for a mediocre team, the Lakers are undeniably still the most popular team in the league.

Miami Heat: Just a few seasons ago Miami were the ‘it’ team. They had LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, two championships under their belt and A LOT of supporters. They’re no longer the intimidating powerhouse they once were and a lot of supporters seem to have jumped ship. However, a negative stigma still surrounds their fans.

Oklahoma City Thunder: The Thunder’s favourite son, Russell Westbrook set an NBA record this year with the most triple-doubles (basketball term) in a season. This feat has lead to mass media attention, which has brought with it an indecisive fan base. Although they had a mediocre year this season and have only made one finals series since 2012, I think it would be best to avoid choosing Oklahoma City as your team, just so it doesn’t appear that you chose them entirely based on Westbrook’s incredible feat.