Nearly 50% of Dallas Mavericks Fans Lose Sleep Over Their Team
“Which NBA fans lose the most sleep over a loss?” you ask. Depending on who you ask, the answer is highly subjective, as not everybody knows every fan in any NBA team’s fanbase, including the Dallas Mavericks.
According to a survey by The Lines, almost 33% of basketball fans in the U.S. have trouble sleeping when their favorite team isn’t doing well. Also, nearly 50% of Mavericks fans lose sleep when their team isn’t doing well — a common occurrence so far this season.
With the NBA season well underway, fans should brace themselves. On average, fans lose an average of 52 minutes of sleep after a disappointing performance by their favorite team. Read on for the entire study.
NBA Fans Lose Sleep Over Their Team
You dribble yourself to bed a bit disappointed after your basketball heroes flop on the court, only to find out you can’t fall asleep. That’s frustrating, but you’re not alone. 31% of basketball fans in the U.S. deal with this issue. They are awake for an average of 52 minutes.
Brooklyn Nets fans are the most sleepless fanbase. 57% said they lie awake after a bad performance. New Orleans Pelicans fans lie awake the longest of all NBA fanbases. The Pelicans’ fans lie for an average of 1 hour and 13 minutes.
NBA Fans Lose Sleep Over Their Teams
When it comes to the percentage of NBA fans who sleep poorly after a disappointing game, Brooklyn Nets fans top the list. 57% Nets fans struggle with insomnia after a poor performance, lying awake for an average of 54 minutes.
Orlando Magic fans are the second-highest. 45% of Magic fans have restless nights when their team underperforms, losing an average of 63 minutes of sleep. Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks fans tie for third place. 44% of their fans are tossing and turning after a letdown, averaging 42 and 45 minutes awake, respectively.
Final Thoughts
“Which fans stay up the longest?” you ask. The suspicious honor goes to the New Orleans Pelicans fans. When their team disappoints, fans lose an average of 73 minutes of sleep.
The Pelicans fans are just ahead of the San Antonio Spurs fans and Houston Rockets fans, who average 72 and 70 minutes of tossing and turning, putting them in second and third place, respectively.
Fortunately, some fans drift off peacefully the moment their head hits the pillow, whether a game was good or bad. Sacramento Kings fans are the least affected by this kind of sports-related insomnia. Only 15% of Kings fans said they sleep worse after a disappointing game. That is the lowest percentage among all NBA fanbases. The Kings’ fans don’t lose the least amount of sleep. On average, the Kings’ fans lose 56 minutes.
The honor for the shortest sleep disruption goes to Atlanta Hawks and Minnesota Timberwolves fans, who, on average, toss and turn for just 35 minutes after a poor performance by their respective teams.
The Lines’ 2025 NBA Insomnia Study, commissioned by The Lines and conducted in October 2025, surveyed 2,000 U.S. basketball fans nationwide to examine how disappointing NBA team performances affect sleep quality. Participants reported their favorite team, whether a poor performance ever disrupted their sleep, and, if so, for how long on average. The sample was 62% male, 37% female, and 1% non-binary, with an average age of 41.7 years.
