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Sportscasting.com has analyzed Instagram data to see which NBA players have added the most followers since the start of the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

Key Highlights:

  • Anthony Edwards increased his Instagram following by 38.7% since the start of the 2024 NBA Playoffs
  • Edwards has gained 5x more followers (+844,980) than the next-highest player (Luka Doncic)
  • Jaylen Brown, Tobias Harris, & LeBron James were among the stars who lost the most Instagram followers

Minnesota Timberwolves’ star guard Anthony Edwards has captured the imagination of fans with Jordan-esque performances in the first two rounds of the NBA Playoffs. As a result, Edwards has become one of the new faces of the league, responsible for ushering the NBA into the post-LeBron era.

Since the start of the NBA Playoffs, the TWolves’ star guard has increased his Instagram following by 38.7%, the most of any player participating in the postseason. Edwards has gained nearly 845,000 Instagram followers over the past month, five times more than the next-highest player (Luka Doncic, +167,430).

Find out which NBA players have gained the most Instagram followers and the rate at which they’ve grown their following since the beginning of the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

Anthony Edwards’ Instagram Following Has Grown By 38.7% Since The NBA Playoffs

Edwards has instantly catapulted himself to superstardom during the postseason, making his presence felt on both ends of the floor. Heading into the Western Conference Finals, the 22-year-old is averaging 28.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game while delivering highlight-reel dunks and viral soundbites after every game.

As a result, Edwards has grown his social media following by nearly 1 million followers since the start of the NBA Playoffs. The TWolves’ star has grown his Instagram following by 38.7% since April 20, more than any other player in the NBA. Aside from Edwards, a few other players have experienced exponential growth.

Below, we’ll take a look at the NBA players with the highest percentage growth on Instagram since the beginning of the playoffs.

Highest Percentage Growth On Instagram Since The 2024 NBA Playoffs

Rank Name Team % Change
1 Anthony Edwards Minnesota Timberwolves +38.69%
2 Jaden McDaniels Minnesota Timberwolves +33.29%
3 Jalen Brunson New York Knicks +26.55%
4 Donte DiVincenzo New York Knicks +18.50%
5 Miles McBride New York Knicks +16.37%
6 Josh Hart New York Knicks +10.79%
7 Jalen Williams OKC Thunder +10.06%
8 Tyrese Haliburton Indiana Pacers +6.95%
9 Nikola Jokic Denver Nuggets +6.80%
10 PJ Washington Dallas Mavericks +6.64%

Another Minnesota player seems to have suddenly become more popular during the postseason. Thanks in part to a shoutout from Edwards, Timberwolves’ forward Jaden McDaniels ranks second to only Edwards in percentage growth at +33.29%.

Led by Brunson (+26.55%), four New York Knicks players were among the fastest-growing Instagram accounts during the NBA playoffs. Donte DiVincenzo (+18.50%), Miles McBride (+16.37%), and Josh Hart (+10.79%) were among the top six player accounts in overall percentage growth.

In total, seven players have grown their Instagram following by at least 10% over the past month.

Edwards Has Gained 5x More Followers (+844,980) Than The Next-Highest Player (Luka Doncic)

With 844,980 followers gained since April 20, Edwards has added five times more than the next-highest player, Luka Doncic (+167,430).

Edwards and the TWolves will take on the Doncic-led Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals in hopes of sending Minnesota to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.

Two other Mavericks, Kyrie Irving (+74,460) and PJ Washington (+47,760), were among the players who gained the most followers during the NBA Playoffs.

Top 10 Most Instagram Followers Gained Since The 2024 NBA Playoffs

Rank Name Team Net Change
1 Anthony Edwards Minnesota Timberwolves +844,980
2 Luka Doncic Dallas Mavericks +167,430
3 Jalen Brunson New York Knicks +121,830
4 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander OKC Thunder +121,680
5 Josh Hart New York Knicks +81,300
6 Kyrie Irving Dallas Mavericks +74,460
7 Tyrese Haliburton Indiana Pacers +58,440
8 Donte DiVincenzo New York Knicks +56,820
9 Jamal Murray Denver Nuggets +48,120
10 PJ Washington Dallas Mavericks +47,760

Other players who have endeared themselves to NBA fans over the past month include Jalen Brunson (+121,830), Josh Hart (+81,300), Tyrese Haliburton (+58,440), and PJ Washington (+47,760).

Which NBA Stars Have Lost The Most Instagram Followers Since April 20?

Name Team Followers Apr 20 Followers May 21 Net Change % Change
Tobias Harris Philadelphia 76ers 500,220 496,980 -3,240 -0.65%
Jaylen Brown Boston Celtics 3,847,476 3,823,056 -24,420 -0.63%
CJ McCollum New Orleans Pelicans 1,278,048 1,271,928 -6,120 -0.48%
Giannis Antetokounmpo Milwaukee Bucks 16,210,817 16,143,827 -66,990 -0.41%
Bradley Beal Phoenix Suns 1,377,939 1,372,359 -5,580 -0.40%
Brandon Ingram New Orleans Pelicans 2,188,722 2,180,022 -8,700 -0.40%
Zion Williamson New Orleans Pelicans 5,277,747 5,261,427 -16,320 -0.31%
D’Angelo Russell Los Angeles Lakers 3,975,282 3,963,072 -12,210 -0.31%
Devin Booker Phoenix Suns 5,583,417 5,569,227 -14,190 -0.25%
Damian Lillard Milwaukee Bucks 10,421,748 10,402,158 -19,590 -0.19%
LeBron James Los Angeles Lakers 159,906,430 159,685,420 -221,010 -0.14%
Darius Garland Cleveland Cavaliers 507,296 506,816 -480 -0.09%
Kevin Durant Phoenix Suns 13,411,472 13,401,272 -10,200 -0.08%
Joel Embiid Philadelphia 76ers 7,690,642 7,684,942 -5,700 -0.07%
Evan Mobley Cleveland Cavaliers 227,031 226,971 -60 -0.03%

Playoff performances tend to work both ways.

Players who perform at the highest level of competition benefit from the added attention, but those who fail to rise to the occasion are often met with stark criticism. So, it should come as no surprise that some of the top underperformers have lost the most Instagram followers during the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

In terms of percentage change, Tobias Harris (-0.65%) and Jaylen Brown (-0.63%) have lost the most Instagram followers since the start of the postseason, followed by CJ McCollum (-0.48%), Giannis Antetokounmpo (-0.41%), and Bradley Beal (-0.40%).

Meanwhile, LeBron James (-221,010), Antetokounmpo (-66,990), and Brown (-24,420) have lost the most followers since April 20th.

Net Change In Instagram Following By Team

Team Net Change
Minnesota Timberwolves +927,006
Dallas Mavericks +296,070
New York Knicks +279,630
OKC Thunder +159,660
Denver Nuggets +66,480
Indiana Pacers +63,840
Boston Celtics +44,100
Philadelphia 76ers +28,590
Miami Heat +28,200
Orlando Magic +11,910
Los Angeles Clippers +8,460
Cleveland Cavaliers +8,190
Phoenix Suns -29,970
New Orleans Pelicans -31,140
Milwaukee Bucks -86,580
Los Angeles Lakers -216,810
Best in NBA

Nick Raffoul