Why Are the Celtics the Most Viewed NBA Team?

So it seems a lot of people watch the Boston Celtics. Like a lot of people. According to Pro Basketball Reference’s updated “Most Viewed NBA Team Pages” for 2025, the Boston Celtics were the most viewed NBA team in 27 states. This is the most of any team in the league by far, with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns being tied for second at three states apiece. So what could be the reason for this huge popularity that spans the entire country?

Well, first and foremost, the Boston Celtics are arguably the most iconic NBA team in history, with the Lakers being their only competition in this department. With them being one of the NBA’s original franchises and with their consistent success across several decades, the Celtics have multigenerational popularity and relevance, which is key to attracting a large audience. In particular, their stance as a title favorite for the last half-decade has likely given them a boost in popularity as well amongst the younger generation. This perfect blend of history and modern relevance has allowed the Celtics to dominate in television ratings, views on social media, and even NBA merchandise sales, drawing attention from older and younger viewers alike.

Besides their place in NBA history, though, the Celtics have also had a great collection of talented players on their roster as of late. Whereas many teams may have only two or three players capable of getting big buckets, the Celtics have been loaded the last several years. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have been the team’s two biggest stars, but other players such as Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White, Al Horford, and even Payton Pritchard are all capable of going for at least 20 points on any given night. This plethora of good players across the last few seasons leads to the Celtics being one of the most intriguing squads in the league; after all, you never knew who was going to be the star on any given night.

So, from their historical legacy, their modern greatness, and their seemingly endless list of star players, it’s no wonder that the Celtics are the most viewed team in the country. After all, they have the perfect blend of history and current intrigue to keep them relevant. Now, with Jason Tatum being out likely all of next year and with Kristaps Porzingis gone as well, it will be interesting to see how big a falloff the Celtics may suffer in terms of their popularity, if any. New faces such as Anfernee Simons should do well to lessen the blow, but only time will tell.