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FanSided 250: Minnesota Timberwolves fans are underrated

By Ben Beecken

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 10: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves stands during the National Anthem prior to playing the Golden State Warriors in an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on October 10, 2019 in San Francisco, California. 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. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 10: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves stands during the National Anthem prior to playing the Golden State Warriors in an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on October 10, 2019 in San Francisco, California. 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. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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The Minnesota Timberwolves fanbase landed at No. 173 on the FanSided 250 ranking this season, but that still isn’t quite high enough.

Fans of the Minnesota Timberwolves have been (and continue to go through) a lot. All we ask is that they have something to show for it.

To this point, the on-court product only has a single conference finals appearance back in 2004 and a host of one-and-done playoff appearances, not to mention a 14-year drought right smack-dab in the middle of franchise history.

Off the court? The Wolves fanbase has been ranked anywhere from No. 8 among NBA fanbases in 2017 to entirely unranked in 2018, so the No. 173 overall and No. 21 in the NBA is squarely in the center of the range of outcomes.

Indeed, the FanSided 250 puts the Wolves at exactly that spot, which is above seven ranked NBA fanbases and two that were unranked entirely.

Timberwolves on FanSided 250. light. Read

What is the FanSided 250, exactly? It’s a ranking of all fanbases for all teams/people/things that could have fanbases, from each individual major sports franchise to colleges and universities to TV shows, celebrities, and more.

For instance, the Wolves ended up well ahead of the Legend of Zelda fanbase, which landed at No. 242. But they were beat handily by Kyle Jenner (No. 98) and Chance the Rapper (No. 90).

In terms of actual basketball teams, beating out the fanbases of the San Antonio Spurs (No. 176 overall), Oklahoma City Thunder (No. 185), Chicago Bulls (No. 187), Indiana Pacers (No. 199), Utah Jazz (No. 202), Detroit Pistons (No. 205), and Sacramento Kings (No. 243) was a bit of a surprise.

Or, put another way, If you were to tell me that the Wolves were No. 21 in NBA fanbases, I wouldn’t expect those seven teams to be below Minnesota. And yet I would still expect the Wolves to be higher than No. 21, considering all 30 fanbases.

But hey, we’ll take it. It takes more to be a Wolves fan, of course, and the rankings aren’t simply based on in-arena attendance. What’s easier: suffering through a 14-year playoff drought or enjoying 20-plus years of a Spurs dynasty?

Next. The Wolves should not trade Robert Covington. dark

At any rate, make sure to head on over to the list to see where the fanbase for your favorite musical artists, celebrities, and non-Timberwolves teams ended up. It’s a fun exercise that is overhauled each year with new developments, and the journey that some fanbases have taken up and down this list is fascinating.

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