Dallas Mavericks Among the NBA’s 7 Most Despised Teams
According to Hard Rock Bet’s survey of 2,000 NBA fans, the Dallas Mavericks were ranked among the NBA’s top seven most despised teams.
The Mavericks received 3.4% of votes from the NBA fans, who chose them as the team they despised the most — the seventh-highest result for all squads surveyed. The Mavs finished 0.2% behind the Cleveland Cavaliers, who received 3.4% of the total votes.
The Mavericks aren’t the only despised team in the NBA, but the chain reaction that ultimately created the Mavericks’ most hated status stems from a combination of high-profile trades, on-court struggles, and front office mishaps.
Read on for the entire survey to learn more about the Mavericks’ reputation, along with several other NBA teams’ reputations.
Key Findings
According to the Hard Rock Bet, 3.4% of NBA fans named the Dallas Mavericks as the NBA team that they hate the most. The Mavericks have been a more divisive team, thanks to a superstar-driven era led by Luka Doncic. The Mavericks’ shocking trade of Doncic in February 2025 was widely viewed as a disastrous move, especially with the MFFLs’ trust in the team.
The Brooklyn Nets ranked among the NBA’s top seven most despised teams, thanks to the divisiveness stemming from a superstar-driven era led by Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. The Nets trailed the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, and Cleveland Cavaliers. Moreover, 3.4% of NBA fans chose the Nets as the NBA team they hate the most.
The Portland Trail Blazers haven’t been great at basketball in recent years but were the least hated team in the survey. The Trail Blazers received just 0.5% of the total votes. The Trail Blazers’ storied history appears to make up for the injuries, inconsistencies, and defensive struggles.
The NBA’s Most Hated Teams
The NBA opens the 2026-27 regular season on October 20, with three Opening Night games: Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks, and Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs.
Some of the NBA’s teams receive more criticism than others. The survey revealed the league’s most hated teams. The Los Angeles Lakers were ranked the most hated team with 17.1% of the votes. The Lakers’ overall success, massive fanbase, and constant media attention makes the team an easy target for rival fans.
The Celtics trailed the Lakers with 12.5% of the votes. The Celtics’ second place ranking was attributed to the team’s record-setting NBA championship history, winning culture, and fierce rivalry status. As a result, Boston earns respect across the league, while creating resentment among the league’s fans.
The Chicago Bulls ranked third, with 8.6% of the votes. The Bulls haven’t replicated the same dominance of the Michael Jordan era but remains one of the most recognized basketball brands in the world. Jordan’s legacy helped transform the Bulls into a global phenomenon, and Chicago’s level of visibility continues to attract strong opinions.
The Golden State Warriors ranked fourth, with 6.4% of the votes. The Warriors’ modern dynasty era transformed a fledgling franchise into an era-defining team with Stephen Curry’s rise, a record-breaking 73-win 2015-16 NBA season, and four NBA titles in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022.
The Knicks rounded out the top five, with 4.7% of the votes. The Knicks’ constant media attention, which happens to be in the NBA’s largest market, often leads to backlash from some NBA fans, who felt the blue and orange receives additional attention, no matter how they perform on the court.
The Cleveland Cavaliers ranked sixth, with 3.6% of the votes. The Brooklyn Nets and Dallas Mavericks tied for seventh, with 3.4% apiece. The Atlanta Hawks and Detroit Pistons tied for eighth, with 3.3% each. The Hawks and Pistons’ recent rises in the Eastern Conference propelled both teams in the spotlight for the first time in decades.
The NBA’s Least Hated Teams
The NBA doesn’t always generate bad news. The NBA’s least hated teams attract less negativity due to smaller markets, fewer rivalries, and lower rates of “villain” labels.
The Portland Trail Blazers are the least hated team in the league, with just 0.5% of the total votes. Generally speaking, Portland is viewed as an underdog, which makes it difficult for neutral NBA fans to actively dislike the red and black.
The Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns tied for second, with just 0.8% of the votes. The Kings became a fan favorite across the league, thanks to years of struggle followed by a recent resurgence to competitiveness. The Suns’ recent postseason appearances and high-profile roster moves contributed to a lower rate of hostility.
The Minnesota Timberwolves ranked third, with just 1% of the votes. Despite continuing to build momentum as a playoff contender, Minnesota is mostly free of widespread dislike throughout the NBA.
The Memphis Grizzlies rounded out the top five, with just 1% of the votes. The Grizzlies’ strong identity was led by Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks, but the blue and gray haven’t reached the type of sustained success that generates league-wide resentment.
The New Orleans Pelicans and Milwaukee Bucks tied for sixth, with 1.1% apiece. The Toronto Raptors ranked eighth, with 1.4%. The Indiana Pacers ranked ninth, with 1.5%. The Washington Wizards, San Antonio Spurs, and Houston Rockets rounded out the top 10 in a three-way tie for 10th, with 1.7% each.
Methodology
Hard Rock Bet conducted a survey of 2,000 professional basketball fans during the 2025-26 NBA season. The respondents selected the NBA team they dislike the most, with the results ranked by the percentage of votes.
