The NBA is one of the most popular competitions in the world. People from all across the globe travel to the U.S season after season to take a glimpse at the greatest athletes to ever live and enjoy the NBA experience.
Needless to say, there have always been fan bases that have stayed by their teams with a little more enthusiasm than others. Most of the time, that happens when they have a contending team and a couple of superstars.
But even among the loyal fanbases, there have been sometimes that they’ve taken it up a notch, literally flooding the arena to attend a highly-anticipated NBA matchup. Today, we’re going to let you know about the 8 games with the most fans in attendance in NBA history.
8. Minnesota Timberwolves vs Orlando Magic, April 13, 1990 – Attendance 45,450
Tyrone Corbin and Pooh Richardson combined for 62 points. (Getty)
The Minnesota Timberwolves entered the Association in 1989 so they were a huge sensation at Minneapolis during their early days. They actually led the league in attendance during the 1989-99 season.
Surprisingly, over 45,000 fans attended theHubert H. Humphrey Metrodome to witness a 117-102 triumph over Terry Catledge and the Orlando Magic. They moved to Target Center next season, where they continue to play.
7. Atlanta Hawks vs Chicago Bulls, November 7, 1997 – Attendance 45,790
Michael Jordan scored 27 points with 8 rebounds and 6 assiststhat day. (Getty)
Everybody on earth wanted to have a look at Michael Jordan. He was the most famous person in the world and tickets sold out wherever he and his 4-time NBA champions Chicago Bulls had to play.
Atlanta Hawks’ fans took the mythical Georgia Dome by storm with an attendance of almost 46,000 fans. Gladly for them, his team hung on to a 2-point triumph over Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman.
6. Detroit Pistonsvs Atlanta Hawks, March 30, 1988 – Attendance 47,692
Isiah Thomas scored 35 points for the Pistons. (Getty)
Joe Dumars and his Detroit Pistons were the team to beat during the late ’80s. Everybody hated the Bad Boys and, believe it or not,the Hawks had a legit shot at taking them down back in the day.
The Pistons were a huge sensation and their fans flooded thePontiac Silverdome, which was their home before ‘The Palace’ and the Little Ceasars Arena. That day, whoever, it was the visiting team the one that celebrated after beating them 103-102.
5. Minnesota Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets, April 17, 1990 – Attendance 49,551
Michael Adams led the Nuggets with 22 points. (Getty)
Once again, the Minnesota Timberwolves make our list thanks to the diehard home crowd of their early days. Little did they know that they’ll be one of the least successful franchises in the league thirty years later.
Despite their 22-57 record, theHubert H. Humphrey Metrodome was once again stacked with Timberwolves fans to watch their team take on Alex English and the Nuggets. Sadly for them, the visitors left the arena with a 10-point victory.
4. Detroit Pistons vs Philadelphia 76ers, February 14, 1987 – Attendance 52,745
Adrian Dantley led all scorers with 35 points. (Getty)
The Philadelphia 76ers and Detroit Pistons were the toughest, most physical teams in the world back in 1987. They featured plenty of stars like Julius ‘Dr. J’ Erving, Mo Cheeks, Roy Hinson, Bill Laimbeer, Isiah Thomas, and Joe Dumars, so this was must-see basketball.
Everybody on Michigan was rooting for the Bad Boys and no one was left out of the Pontiac Superdome that night. The Pistons hung to a 125-107 triumph despite Hinson’s 27 points and 10 rebounds.
3.Detroit Pistons vs Boston Celtics, January 29, 1988 – Attendance 61,983
The Pistons outscored the Celtics 37-27 in the 4th quarter. (Getty)
As you may know by not, the Pontiac Silverdome was pretty used to hosting dozens of thousands of hard-nosed Detroit Pistons’ fans, but their clash vs. the Celtics in 1988 still holds the record for their largest-attendance game ever.
The Celtics were the team to beat in the Eastern Conference if the Pistons wanted to make it to the Finals and everybody knew it. Gladly for their fans, they ended up on top with a 125-108 victory over Larry Bird and Dennis Johnson.
2. Atlanta Hawks vs Chicago Bulls, March 27, 1998 – Attendance 62,046
Jordan scored 34 points that night. (Getty)
Michael Jordan was reluctant to come back for another season after the Chicago Bulls announced that they weren’t going to resign Phil Jackson. Thus, everybody in America wanted to watch the GOAT play before retiring for good.
That was the case when Jordan visited the Georgia Dome for the final time that season. The tickets sold out in minutes and Hawks fans left the arena with a bittersweet feeling. On one hand, they had seen MJ for the last time, on the other, the Bulls had destroyed them 89-74.
1.2010 NBA All-Star Game, February 14, 2010– Attendance 108,713
Wade was named All-Star MVP. (Getty)
You know what they say: Everything’s bigger in Texas. Well, the NBA decided to live up to that motto and took the 2010 All-Star Game to Cowboys Stadium, with a record-breaking108,713 fans in attendance.
People from all over the nation – and the world – traveled to see performances from Usher, Alicia Keys, Shakira; and the best players on earth. The Eastern Conference won the game 141-139 behind Dwyane Wade’s 28 points.
