Kevin Durant Named 2nd Most Popular NBA Player Among Peers
There are the most and least popular peers in any field, and The Action Network uncovered the most and least popular NBA players among their peers. As a representative for popularity, the folks at The Action Network analyzed 183 NBA players’ Instagram follow data to uncover who has the most fellow players following them.
Considering both the overall Instagram followers and percentage of his teammates that follow him, Houston Rockets Forward Kevin Durant is the second most popular NBA player.
Kevin Durant Named 2nd Most Popular NBA Player
At the time of the research study, 89 NBA players followed Houston Rockets veteran Kevin Durant. Durant, 37, had 13,712,128 Instagram followers.
In addition, Durant follows 84 NBA players on Instagram, more than any NBA player except for Atlanta Hawks Guard CJ McCollum. 75% of Durant’s teammates followed him on Instagram.
In 2019, the now-37-year-old admitted to using burner accounts to interact with NBA fans. In light of the recent rumors that he’s using a burner account once again to trash talk. One thing is clear in the research study. The Texas alum dedicates a significant amount of time to Instagram, both in following others and spending time on his own personal profile.
Durant Is In the Top 25 Most Popular NBA Players List
Although he doesn’t lead the top 25 most popular NBA players list, Durant remains well-liked among the NBA’s fans and media members. He trails just Los Angeles Lakers Forward LeBron James.
James, 41, shows the general public that his nickname “King James” demands respect on and off the court, thanks to his influence in professional basketball, business, philanthropy, and social activism.
Despite having a smaller social media following, Durant closely matches James in peer recognition. Moreover, Durant follows 84 NBA players on social media networks. He trails just Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum, who follows 86 NBA players on social media.
In contrast, Houston Rockets Forward Jabari Smith Jr., Rockets Center Alperen Sengun, and Philadelphia 76ers Center Andre Drummond had zero NBA players following them on social media.
Smith Jr., 22, Sengun, 23, and Drummond, 32, are the least followed NBA players among their peers in this research study. Furthermore, the top NBA players in this research study aren’t always the NBA’s most popular stars in terms of statistics, but they’ve displayed dominance in reputation, leadership, and locker room relationships.
NBA stars from historically successful teams, such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, and Golden State Warriors, often lead in research studies like this one. This suggests that team culture and legacy have the power to influence their peers’ perceptions.
The Clippers, Warriors, New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, and Washington Wizards all had two NBA players represented in this study.
The Brooklyn Nets, Detroit Pistons, Oklahoma City Thunder, Sacramento Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Miami Heat had zero NBA representation in this study.
Durant’s Outlook On and Off the Court
Durant’s outlook on the court appears to be extremely optimistic. Durant’s continuous strong performances for the Rockets showcase his abilities to score multiple points, achieve major milestones, and display his dedication to excellence. His exceptional longevity positively impacts the Rockets’ success, along with the NBA’s.
Durant’s outlook off the court appears to be bright, thanks to his social media popularity among his peers and fans alike. His philanthropy, primarily through the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation, has been improving the lives of at-risk youth from low-income families with educational, athletic, and social programs since 2013.
His frequent social media posts attract attention to himself, whether good, bad, or questionable. His posts provide fans with a glimpse of his life off the court.
