The National Basketball Association is one of the top three professional sports leagues in America and has continued to grow its reach throughout the US and overseas. Having a rich history of talent and a list of 30 teams spread across the country, the NBA has stamped its feet in North America.
Currently, there are only 22 states and one Canadian Province with NBA teams to call their own, but this has in no way impacted the love for professional basketball throughout the country. The bulk of states without NBA franchises still express their support for other teams in the league, with hopes of having a home-based team in the future.
One state, Arkansas, stands out among the pack, boasting one of the most dedicated basketball fans in the country, despite being relatively small in size and number. Arkansas is the 33rd most populous state as of 2023, yet its residents show up big when it comes to basketball. Of course, the home-based Razorbacks and Red Wolves are the state’s flagship at college basketball tournaments. However, when it comes to the NBA, the state’s fandom is also well-documented, with thousands of fans in the state repping their favorite teams’ jerseys
This article takes a look at the NBA landscape in Arkansas and why some NBA teams are more popular than others in the state.
The Impact of Sports Betting on NBA Fandom in Arkansas
While basketball has been a fan-favorite in Arkansas for decades now, the legalization of sports betting in 2018 heightened interest among sports fans in the state. Arkansas became one of the first states to allow residents aged 21 or older to bet on basketball and other sports.
While betting in Arkansas was initially limited to in-person wagering, the state has allowed online sports betting, the most popular form of wagering, since 2022. Arkansas’ betting market has continued to grow, with plenty of betting options available for basketball fans to choose from.
Residents who seek to bet on the NBA can use TrustnBet, a reliable resource for bettors in the USA, to find more information on legal sports betting in Arkansas and other states across the country.
The Los Angeles Lakers as Arkansans’ Favorite NBA Team
According to multiple sources, most Arkansans are big fans of the Los Angeles Lakers, which should come as no surprise, given the Lakers’ popularity in small states throughout the country.
Despite being located on the West Coast, much of the Lakers’ popularity in Arkansas comes thanks to a rich history of success. LA is one of the biggest sports brands in North America and across the globe. It is the fifth richest franchise in the world and the third most valuable NBA team with a net worth of $6.5 billion, behind only the Golden State Warriors $7.7 billion and New York Knicks $6.6 billion fortune, according to Forbes.
The franchise has won 17 NBA titles, the second most in league history behind current NBA champions Boston Celtics (18). The Purple and Gold have also made the most finals appearances and conference finals appearances in NBA history, demonstrating their winning culture.
When it comes to star power, the franchise has also been privileged to house some of the greatest players to ever play the sport; Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, and now LeBron James, one of the most popular athletes in the world. Arkansans are often seen wearing the iconic purple and gold jerseys of these great players during sporting events.
Austin Reaves, a fellow Arkansan and one of the rising stars in the league, has also given new-age fans in the Natural State more reasons to root for the Lakers. Dubbed the Hillbilly Kobe Bryant and AR-15 by Lakers fans, the Arkansas native joined the Lakers as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and has become one of LA’s beloved players ever since.
The Memphis Grizzlies are Also Fan-Favorites in Arkansas
Aside from the Lakers, the Memphis Grizzlies are the second most popular team in Arkansas due to the state’s proximity to Memphis, Tennessee. The Grizzlies were formerly headquartered in Vancouver before relocating to Memphis in 2001.
Although not as popular as the Lakers, the Grizzlies have enjoyed some successful spells, especially in recent times, finishing as a top-three seed in the Western Conference in two of the last three years.
Memphis has boasted top talents like Pau Gasol, Allen Iverson, Marc Gasol, Tony Allen, Vince Carter, and Mike Conley. They currently have one of the biggest stars in the league right now in Ja Morant, who many believe could become the face of the league.
Other Popular NBA Teams in Arkansas
Some Arkansans also show support for other NBA teams in Texas, another neighboring state. Although not as pronounced as their support for the Lakers and Grizzlies, there are a handful of Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, and San Antonio Spurs fans in the state.
Other popular franchises with a considerable fanbase in Arkansas are the Golden State Warriors and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
