The NBA Team Each State Hates the Most

Nothing brings sports fans together quite like a shared enemy — and the NBA might be the best league in the world at producing them. Superteams, dramatic offseason moves, fan-base grudges, and iconic playoff battles all fuel a level of pettiness that Americans wear proudly.

So the big question: Which NBA teams are the most hated, and where are they hated most?

We turned search data into receipts to find each state’s most adored NBA team. From there, we used traditional rivalries to identify which NBA team that state probably hates the most. Spoiler: one team from Cleveland dominates America’s hate map.

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Top Findings

• The Cleveland Cavaliers are the most hated team in 18 states — by far the widest spread of any franchise.
• The Los Angeles Lakers follow with 13 states, continuing their long-standing reputation as the league’s love-them-or-hate-them brand.
• The Denver Nuggets appear as the most hated in 3 states, tying with the Boston Celtics for 3rd place.
• A handful of teams show up in two states, including Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, and the Warriors.
• Regional patterns are strong: the Lakers dominate New England and the West, the Cavaliers cover huge portions of the Midwest and South, and the Nuggets' hate footprint runs through the Dakotas and Minnesota.

The Most Hated NBA Teams in America

1. Cleveland Cavaliers – 18 states
2. Los Angeles Lakers – 13 states
3. Denver Nuggets – 3 states (tie)
4. Boston Celtics – 3 states (tie)

(tie, 2 states each) Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs

Team Breakdown

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (18 states)

The Cavaliers dominate the hate rankings more than any other franchise. Why so widespread? Superteam eras, LeBron-related fatigue, and years of heavy national attention created a massive pro-Cavs vs anti-Cavs cultural divide. Even after LeBron’s departure, the brand still carries the weight of a decade of NBA debates.

States that hate the Cavaliers (18): Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington

2. Los Angeles Lakers (13 states)

The NBA’s premier dynasty is also one of its premier villains. The Lakers' mix of historic success, superstar glamour, and coast-to-coast visibility ensures they’re either adored or despised — rarely anything in between. Their haters cluster heavily in the West and New England.

States that hate the Lakers (13): Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming

3. Denver Nuggets (3 states- tie)

The reigning champions remain relatively new to widespread hatred, but regional rivalries power their place on this list. Fans in the Upper Midwest and Plains states are the least welcoming.

States that hate the Nuggets (3): Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota

3. Boston Celtics (3 states- tie)

The Celtics are one of the NBA’s most storied franchises — and with a record number of championships and a fanbase that stretches nationwide, they also draw predictable pockets of resentment. Their legacy of dominance, combined with a proud (and sometimes polarizing) basketball culture, creates a natural backlash among rival regions.

States that hate the Celtics (3): Delaware, Florida, Pennsylvania

Other Notable Hated Teams (2 states each)

• Miami Heat: Georgia, North Carolina
• Houston Rockets: Idaho, Utah
• Chicago Bulls: Michigan, Wisconsin
• Golden State Warriors: Ohio, Tennessee
• San Antonio Spurs: Oklahoma, Texas

Rivalries Make the Games

From dynasty fatigue to superstar drama, NBA animosity is as much a part of the league’s identity as highlight dunks and 50-point nights. The Cavaliers shockingly rule the hate map, the Lakers remain the league’s most polarizing juggernaut, and regional grudges power smaller-market teams into the mix.

Because in the NBA, like everywhere else, hate fuels passion — and passion fuels the game.

Most Hated NBA Team In Each State

Methodology

We analyzed Google Keyword Planner search behavior, tracking the average monthly search volume for all NBA teams from November 2021 to October 2025.

For each state, the team with the highest search volume was labeled its most popular team. That team was then matched to its primary rival — revealing which team the state likely hates the most.

The logic is simple: more searches = more emotional investment. By pairing fandom data with rivalry history, we built a state-by-state map of the NBA teams that spark the most collective outrage.

You can see the full dataset here.