Although it’s a small sampling, the lockout doesn’t appear to have hurt NBA attendance through the league’s first three weeks of this shortened season.
Just as they did last season, the Chicago Bulls are the NBA’s best draw averaging 21,957 fans in their five home games thus far. The Bulls averaged 21,791 fans at 41 home games in 2010-11.
The Portland Trail Blazers are second in league attendance, averaging 20,424 through seven home games. The Trail Blazers were second in attendance last season averaging 20,510.
The Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat are both averaging more than 20,000 fans per home game this season. Through eight home games the Mavericks are drawing 20,245, which represents a slight increase over their 2010-11 attendance average.
The Heat are averaging 20,115 fans through four home games. Last season, Miami averaged 19,778 fans per home game.
Rounding out the top five are the New York Knicks, a team that has consistently drawn more than 19,000 fans to its home games throughout the years. The Knicks are averaging 19,763 fans to Madison Square Garden through five home games.
After finishing first or second in total attendance from 2003 to 2009, the Detroit Pistons have seen a dramatic decline. The Pistons routinely drew an average of 22,076 fans to their home games over that six-year period, but now they’re dead last in attendance.
Detroit is averaging only 11,710 fans through six home games this season, nearly 5,000 fewer fans than they did in 2010-11.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have also seen a huge decline in attendance as well. The Cavs finished among the top five teams in the NBA from 2006 to 2011, but this season they’re averaging 16,606 through three home games.
Cleveland averaged more than 20,000 at their 41 home games last season.
Not surprisingly, the Los Angeles Clippers have seen a solid increase in attendance. Last season, the Clippers averaged 17,742 but this season they’re drawing 19,335 fans through six home games.
