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The NBA is a league filled with passionate fanbases, heated rivalries, and teams that dominate for years.
However, great success often breeds great hatred. Some teams have become the most despised in NBA history, whether due to controversial players, superteam formations, or dominant eras.
Here is a look at the 10 most hated NBA teams of all time.
Top 10 most hated NBA teams
10. Dallas Mavericks (2005-2006, 2020-2025)
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2005-2006
The Mavs blew a 2-0 Finals lead to Miami, sparking controversy over referee calls.
2020-2024
Luka Doncic's 30+ point average was overshadowed by his frequent referee complaints, making him a polarizing figure.
The Doncic trade made the Mavericks widely unpopular, with fans burning jerseys and boycotting games.
9. Los Angeles Clippers (2013-2017, 2019-2025)
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2013-2017
"Lob City," featuring Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, suffered repeated playoff collapses, damaging their reputation.
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George's load management and the 2020 bubble collapse (blowing a 3-1 lead to the Denver Nuggets) drew heavy criticism.
8. New York Knicks (1990s, 2010-2025)
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1990s
The Knicks' physical style fueled intense rivalries, notably with the Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers.
Despite acquiring big-name free agents like Carmelo Anthony and Julius Randle, the Knicks have struggled, making the playoffs only three times in the last decade.
7. Houston Rockets (2017-2020)
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2017–2020
James Harden averaged 36.1 points per game in 2018-19 but faced criticism for his foul-drawing tactics and playoff struggles.
The 2018 Rockets' missed 27 consecutive three-pointers in Game 7 against the Warriors cost them a Finals appearance.
6. Philadelphia 76ers (2013-19, 2020-2025)
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2013–2019
The "Trust the Process" era featured extreme tanking. The 2015-16 Sixers finished 10-72, one of the worst records in NBA history.
2020–2021
Ben Simmons' 2021 playoff collapse, including his refusal to take a layup, drew heavy criticism.
2022–2025
Joel Embiid won the controversial 2023 MVP after averaging 33.1 points per game.
In the 2024-25 season, after signing a $193 million extension through 2029, Embiid has been sidelined by multiple injuries.
5. Miami Heat (2010–2014, 2020–2025)
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LeBron James' "Decision" caused significant backlash, transforming him into an NBA villain. The Heat, despite a 58-24 regular season in 2010-11, lost in the Finals.
They won consecutive titles in 2012 and 2013, with LeBron averaging 28.6 points per game in 2013.
2020-2025
Led by Jimmy Butler, the Heat made surprising Finals runs in 2020 and 2023, upsetting higher seeds in the playoffs.
His fiery leadership has been both admired and criticized. Following Butler's trade to the Warriors, the Heat faced significant fan backlash.
4. Brooklyn Nets (2019-2023)
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2019-2023
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving joined forces in 2019, later adding James Harden in 2021.
They achieved a 48-24 record in the 2020-21 season, but injuries plagued their playoff run.
In their 2021 second-round loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, Durant's potential game-winning shot was nullified as his foot barely touched the three-point line.
Irving played only 29 games in the 2021-22 season due to vaccine-related issues, and the team was swept in the 2022 playoffs.
Off-court drama, including trade demands and locker-room conflicts, contributed to their downfall.
3. Golden State Warriors (2015-2025)
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The Warriors' initial rise was celebrated, but Durant's controversial 2016 move transformed them into villains.
They achieved a historic 73-9 record in the 2015-16 season but lost in the Finals. After Durant joined, they won consecutive titles in 2017 and 2018, with KD averaging 35.2 points per game in the 2017 Finals.
Draymond Green's on-court antics, including frequent technical fouls and confrontations with players like LeBron James and Paul Pierce, further polarized opinions about the team.
Even after Durant's departure, the Warriors continued their dominance, winning another title in 2022.
Stephen Curry broke the all-time three-point record in 2021 and won Finals MVP in 2022, averaging 31.2 points per game.
The Warriors' heavy reliance on three-point shooting has been criticized for changing the game in a way that some traditional fans dislike.
2. Boston Celtics (2007-2012, 2017-2025)
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The formation of the Big Three (Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen) was considered one of the NBA's first modern superteams, drawing backlash from smaller market teams.
The Celtics went 66-16 in the 2007-08 season, leading the league in defensive rating and setting the blueprint for future superteams.
Their 2008 Finals victory included a dominant Game 6 win over the Lakers by 39 points, the largest margin in NBA Finals history.
Garnett's on-court trash talk, including his infamous taunts toward opponents, fueled animosity toward the team.
2017-2025
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have led the team back to prominence, with Tatum averaging 26.9 PPG in 2022 and leading the Celtics to the Finals.
The Celtics posted a league-best 64-18 record in the 2023-24 season and won another championship, but their fanbase is often accused of arrogance.
The team's frequent playoff collapses, particularly their 2023 Eastern Conference Finals exit, have added to their polarizing status.
1. Los Angeles Lakers (1999-2004, 2008-2010, 2019-2025)
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1999-2004
The Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant era resulted in a dominant three-peat (2000–2002).
The Lakers went 67-15 in the 1999-2000 season and posted a 15-1 playoff record in 2001, one of the most dominant playoff runs in history.
Their rivalry with the Sacramento Kings, including the controversial 2002 Western Conference Finals, led to accusations of referee favoritism. This, combined with their dominance, began to contribute to the Lakers being considered by many as the most hated NBA team.
In 2004, the team controversially acquired Karl Malone and Gary Payton. Despite a 56-26 record, internal conflicts contributed to their Finals loss against the Detroit Pistons. Bryant and O'Neal's infamous feud culminated in O'Neal's departure in 2004.
2008-2010
Kobe Bryant led the team to another dominant stretch, winning two more championships with Pau Gasol.
The Lakers went 65-17 in the 2008-09 season and 57-25 in the 2009-10 season, with Bryant averaging 30.2 points per game in the 2009 Finals.
Their intense Finals battles against Celtics reignited a historic rivalry, with the Lakers winning a tough seven-game series in 2010.
The series was marked by physical play, questionable officiating, and an iconic Game 7 performance by Bryant, who secured his fifth championship.
The LeBron James-led Lakers won the 2020 championship in the NBA bubble, but many fans dismissed it as an "asterisk title."
The Lakers went 52-19 in the shortened 2019-20 season, with LeBron averaging 25.3 points per game and leading the league in assists (10.2 assists per game)
Their failed acquisition of Russell Westbrook, along with frequent injuries and roster turnover, has drawn criticism.
In 2025, the Lakers acquired Luka Doncic in a trade that sent Davis to the Mavericks. This trade garnered both fans and haters.
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