DENVER (KDVR) — The Denver Nuggets are generally considered to be a title contender each year, and as long as Nikola Jokić is around, that statement will probably hold up.
The Nuggets have already won a championship in recent years, and with the core group still together, they could very well win another — if you ask a Nuggets fan if they agree with that, the majority of them will confidently say yes.
A survey conducted by the Grueling Truth, a popular social media sports network, discovered that Nuggets fans are the most confident in their team’s ability to make it to the NBA Finals.
The survey asked 2,000 basketball fans how they were feeling about the young 2025-26 NBA season — some have no belief at all, and others have faith in their franchise.
Most confident fanbases
| Rank | Team | Finals confidence % |
| 1. | Denver Nuggets | 81% |
| T-2. | Golden State Warriors | 67% |
| T-2. | Oklahoma City Thunder | 67% |
| 4. | Los Angeles Lakers | 65% |
| T-5. | Houston Rockets | 64% |
| T-5. | Cleveland Cavaliers | 64% |
| 7. | Los Angeles Clippers | 63% |
| 8. | Orlando Magic | 60% |
| 9. | New York Knicks | 55% |
| 10. | Boston Celtics | 53% |
Least confident fanbases
| Rank | Team | Finals confidence % |
| 21. | Portland Trail Blazers | 27% |
| 22. | Philadelphia 76ers | 23% |
| T-23. | Memphis Grizzlies | 22% |
| T-23. | Detroit Pistons | 22% |
| 25. | Toronto Raptors | 20% |
| 26. | Charlotte Hornets | 18% |
| 27. | Sacramento Kings | 15% |
| 28. | San Antonio Spurs | 14% |
| 29. | Washington Wizards | 13% |
| 30. | Utah Jazz | 10% |
On the other end of the survey was a unique metric — nervousness.
Fans can still have the utmost belief in their teams, but understand that their team is flawed and a successful season is anything but guaranteed.
With great teams come great expectations, and an all-encompassing anxiety during those close must-win games.
Conversely, just because a fan has no hope for their team to make the finals, doesn’t mean they have given up already.
Some of the fans of teams possibly on the rise, or those praying their team doesn’t take another step in the wrong direction, can be equally as nervous as the contender’s fanbases.
Most nervous fanbases
| Rank | Team | Nervousness % |
| 1. | Houston Rockets | 65% |
| 2. | New Orleans Pelicans | 63% |
| 3. | Toronto Raptors | 60% |
| T-4. | Brooklyn Nets | 57% |
| T-4. | Philadelphia 76ers | 57% |
| T-6. | Memphis Grizzlies | 56% |
| T-6. | Milwaukee Bucks | 56% |
| T-8. | Miami Heat | 54% |
| T-8. | Sacramento Kings | 54% |
| T-10. | Boston Celtics | 52% |
| T-10. | Indiana Pacers | 52% |
Least nervous fanbases
| Rank | Team | Nervousness % |
| T-21. | Atlanta Hawks | 43% |
| T-21. | Phoenix Suns | 43% |
| 23. | Denver Nuggets | 42% |
| 24. | Charlotte Hornets | 41% |
| 25. | Detroit Pistons | 38% |
| T-26. | Cleveland Cavaliers | 36% |
| T-26. | Portland Trail Blazers | 36% |
| 28. | Minnesota Timberwolves | 33% |
| 29. | Oklahoma City Thunder | 26% |
| 30. | Los Angeles Clippers | 25% |
There are millions of fans who love their team and have expectations anywhere on the spectrum. Here’s to hoping that every fan has the 2025-26 NBA season come close to meeting their expectations.
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