Dallas Mavericks: Have the Golden State Warriors Ruined Fanbases?

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OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 15: The Golden State Warriors celebrates with fans after winning the 2017 NBA Championship during a parade on June 15, 2017 in Oakland, CA. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jack Arent/NBAE via Getty Images) /

2. The Warriors have gained tens of thousands of fans thanks to their winning and their style of play (in that order).

The NBA is a player league, not a team league, and it has been since ESPN decided to name LeBron James “The King”. The Warriors probably do not deserve all the blame for what has happened to NBA fanbases, but they can be blamed for the future NBA fans that will all remember supporting their favorite player over their favorite team.

This is something that happens so frequently in young NBA fans that when you go to a Mavs vs. Warriors game, you see more Steph Curry jerseys in youth sizes than adult (and more yellow than blue).

The thing is, 90% of these kids aren’t going to be Golden State fans in 10 years. Giving them the rocky base of “player-supporting” over team supporting is going to translate over to other sports and before long, we will have people with a Bucks jersey, a Dolphins jersey, a Mariners jersey, and a Maple Leafs jersey despite living in Dallas, a city with a major league team in each of those sports.

DALLAS, TX – MARCH 21: Dallas Mavericks fans hold up signs before the game against the Golden State Warriors on March 21, 2017 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Fanbases will no longer be based on teams and franchises, but stars and celebrities. ESPN will be too busy announcing that the next LeBron has his first ring that no one will even pay attention to the fact that the franchise won its first title in over 50 years. You may not want to believe it, but this is the direction that sports fans are going.

Should the Warriors be punished for that? Of course not. The team built by the Golden State front office and coaching staff is one that made all the right moves at all the right times in order to build a strong team. It is understandable that people are going to gravitate to the team that entertained them as children, that is really nothing new.

But, when this super team has seen its last super season, people are going to leave for higher ground and the bandwagon effect will be stronger than ever. LeBron James started the movement, but Steph Curry and Kevin Durant are bringing that movement to a whole new level. This is going to hurt sports in the future and people are afraid to see that.

Next: Why Rick Carlisle Was Exactly Right About ESPN and Lavar Ball

In conclusion, don’t be a bandwagoner.