- The most followed NBA players in 2025 are a unique mix of legends from different generations, rising stars, and global ambassadors
- In 2025, the number of Instagram followers isn’t the only thing that makes an NBA player one of the most followed
The most followed NBA players in 2025 are a unique mix of legends from different generations, rising stars, and global ambassadors whose influence goes far beyond the court and into the age of social media.
In a time when digital engagement is just as important as performance on the court, followers, views, and interactions are important signs of a player’s global footprint.
The most followed NBA players are changing what it means to be influential both in and out of the sport. These athletes are getting as many fans and views on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter (X), and official NBA digital channels as global pop stars.
In this article, Sportsleo talks about the most followed NBA players in 2025, how they got to be so well-known, what their social media reach means for the NBA’s global brand, and how digital culture and athletic excellence have come together to make basketball’s biggest stars some of the most famous people in the world.
What It Means to Be One of the Most Followed NBA Players
In 2025, the number of Instagram followers isn’t the only thing that makes an NBA player one of the most followed. Engagement metrics, such as total views across NBA-owned platforms, viral content reach, and interactions with fans, are very important in figuring out how influential a player is.
In fact, official NBA data shows that players who get a lot of views on social media are often popular around the world and sell a lot of merchandise.
These digital followings are built on several factors:
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Legacy careers and historic achievements
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Iconic on-court moments and highlight reels
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Brand partnerships and off-court personality
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Cultural relevance and engagement with global audiences
Let’s explore who stands at the top of this digital hierarchy.
1. LeBron James — The Undisputed King of Social Reach
LeBron James is the most followed NBA player by a wide margin. His brand has grown beyond basketball. LeBron is the most popular basketball player on NBA digital platforms. In the 2024–25 season, content with James got more than 3.23 billion views on NBA social and digital channels, making him the most viewed player.
He also has one of the biggest Instagram followings of any athlete in the world, with over 158 millions followers on the platform. James’ digital presence isn’t just about numbers. It makes his charitable work, entertainment projects, and cultural voice stronger, making him a one-of-a-kind global figure.
James’ long-lasting fame has also made him a key player in the global growth of basketball, especially in Africa, Asia, and Europe, where NBA viewership is still rising.
2. Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors is the second most followed NBA player. Curry is known as the best shooter in NBA history, and his creative play on the court has led to a lot of activity on social media.
In the 2024–25 season, Curry got more than 2.56 billion views on league digital platforms, putting him in second place behind LeBron.
He has a lot of followers on Instagram (58.6 million), and when you add in his content on TikTok and other sites, Curry has a very consistent online presence.
Curry’s popularity is partly due to how relatable he is: his friendly personality, family-friendly content, and posts that focus on fans make him appealing to a wide range of people, especially younger fans and fans from other countries.
3. Luka Dončić: The European Sensation and Digital Powerhouse
Luka Dončić, a star for the Los Angeles Lakers, is the third most followed NBA player. Dončić is popular online because he plays well in clutch situations, has an exciting style of play, and is popular all over the world.
During the 2024–25 NBA season, he got about 1.82 billion views on NBA digital channels (as per NBA), making him one of the league’s most interesting people.
Dončić’s international background—he’s from Slovenia—has helped him connect with fans all over the world, especially in Europe and Latin America. This has boosted his digital following beyond what typical U.S. metrics would show.
4. Victor Wembanyama: The New Star
Victor Wembanyama is already one of the most popular NBA players, even though he’s only been in the league for a short time.
This is because he is big, skilled, and makes plays that are ready for the highlight reel. He got about 1.47 billion views in the same 2024–25 social media ranking, making him one of the league’s most popular digital attractions.
Wembanyama’s rise represents a new generation of players whose media value comes not only from their past but also from the excitement of the present. His interesting content and moments that fans can’t stop sharing have made him a digital star.
5. Nikola Jokić
Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets has won the NBA MVP award twice and is also one of the most followed NBA players. Jokić has built up a huge global digital presence, with about 1.20 billion views across digital platforms during the 2024–25 season.
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Jokić is very quiet off the court, but fans love his unfiltered personality, funny interviews, and amazing basketball IQ. Jokić’s steady greatness keeps him in the news and in social conversations, even though he’s not as flashy as some of his peers.
6. Ja Morant
Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies, who is known for his high-flying dunks and charming style, rounds out the list of the most popular players. In 2025, his content got more than 1.09 billion views, making him one of the most popular NBA players on the internet.
Morant’s social media is full of fun and exciting videos, behind-the-scenes content, and moments that fans love to share and watch again and again, like his flying finishes and fun personality off the court.
7. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a star for the Oklahoma City Thunder, is also one of the most followed NBA players, with more than 1.06 billion views in the 2024–25 season.
Shai’s smooth playing style and steady growth have made him a fan favorite online, especially among younger fans who love his highlight plays and fun off-court presence.
8. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo, a star player for the Milwaukee Bucks who is affectionately known as the “Greek Freak,” has almost 900 million social media views in the 2024–25 season. He is one of the most followed NBA players on digital platforms.
Giannis is a great athlete and a cultural icon, and his posts inspire fans all over the world. Even though he doesn’t do as much as some of his peers, he still has a huge global fanbase that keeps his digital influence strong.
9. Anthony Edwards
Anthony Edwards, a star for the Minnesota Timberwolves, got about 800 million views during the 2024–25 NBA season. This made him one of the most popular NBA players.
Fans stay interested in Edwards because of his youthful swagger, trademark scoring bursts, and interesting highlights. As a new generation of NBA stars, his social media presence shows that more and more young fans want to connect with up-and-coming players.
10. Jayson Tatum
Jayson Tatum, a forward for the Boston Celtics, is also one of the ten most watched NBA stars online. He had about 766 million views during the 2024–25 season, making him one of the most popular NBA players online.
Tatum’s polished All-Star performances and consistent excellence, along with relatable behind-the-scenes content, draw fans into his journey both on and off the court.
Other Notable Mentions in Digital Fame
A few other players are also building large online followings, even though the players above are the most followed NBA players.
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Kevin Durant — A major presence on platforms like X (Twitter), where his direct engagement draws millions of followers and reactions.
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Stephen Curry and LeBron James — Often lead jersey sales and organic engagement, further boosting their overall digital influence.
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Veteran fan favorites and international players — also contribute to dynamic digital trends, even if not in the top ten view counts.
Why Digital Influence Matters for the NBA
Digital engagement is becoming more and more important to the league’s global strategy because it leads to:
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Increased broadcast viewership — viral moments encourage tune-ins to games.
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Brand sponsorships — followership elevates commercial value.
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Youth and international growth — social platforms are key to attracting younger and overseas fans.
The most followed NBA players are now essential to the league’s global storytelling, and their online authenticity often drives cultural trends beyond basketball itself.
Conclusion: The Age of Digital Basketball Icons
Not only are the most followed NBA players in 2025 athletes, but they are also digital icons whose impact can be seen in sports, culture, and the media around the world. These players show how basketball has grown into a global phenomenon, from LeBron James’ mind-boggling multi-billion-view presence to rising stars like Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
These athletes will probably stay at the top of both basketball and digital influence as social media changes how fans interact with sports. The most followed NBA players show that even in a world where everything is digital, connections are still important. This is a sign of the NBA’s growing global reach.
