Philadelphia 76ers Fans Named 2025’s Best Fanbase - And They Earned Every Bit of It
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from the past year in Philadelphia, it’s that 76ers fans don’t fold when things get tough. They dig in.
They show up. And in 2025, they were rewarded - not just with a top-three draft pick, but with national recognition as the most passionate, resilient fanbase in sports.
Let’s rewind. The Sixers’ 2024-25 season wasn’t easy.
In fact, it was one of the roughest in recent memory. A 24-win campaign, a roster riddled with injuries, and a playoff dream that fizzled out before spring even arrived.
Joel Embiid and Paul George never found their rhythm together, bouncing in and out of the lineup. Tyrese Maxey, the team’s heartbeat, eventually joined them on the injury report.
By mid-March, the stars were shut down for the year, and the Sixers were officially in draft mode.
But here’s where most fanbases might check out. Not Philly.
Instead of turning away, Sixers fans leaned in. They fired up Tankathon, debated lottery odds, and tuned into games featuring lineups that looked more like Summer League than NBA regular season - Oshea Brissett, Chuma Okeke, Marcus Bagley.
Yet the Wells Fargo Center still had energy. Fans still found reasons to watch, like the flashes from rookies Justin Edwards and Adem Bona.
Then came May 12.
That night, the city held its breath. The Sixers’ first-round pick was top-6 protected - if it slipped to No. 7 or lower, it was headed to Oklahoma City.
But the ping pong balls bounced Philly’s way, landing them the No. 3 overall pick. It was the franchise’s highest selection since 2017, and it felt like a turning point.
From that moment, the fanbase was back in full swing. Every barbershop, podcast, and group chat in the city buzzed with debate: VJ Edgecombe or Ace Bailey? The arguments were passionate, the opinions strong, but the goal was shared - finding the next cornerstone.
On June 25, the Sixers made their pick: VJ Edgecombe. And when fans saw Edgecombe’s emotional reaction, it struck a chord.
This wasn’t just another draft night. It was a moment of hope.
A reason to believe again.
That belief only grew as the offseason unfolded. With Maxey returning to form, Edgecombe flashing his potential, and the additions of Jared McCain and Quentin Grimes, the Sixers suddenly had a young core worth watching. Even with the long-term futures of Embiid and George uncertain, fans had something real to rally around.
Now, with the 2025-26 season rolling, the Sixers are sitting at 14-11 and back in the playoff mix. Maxey is playing like a fringe top-10 guy.
Edgecombe is showing why he was a top-three pick. Embiid and George - when healthy - are starting to click.
It’s not perfect, but it’s progress. And for this fanbase, that’s more than enough to keep the fire burning.
So when Philadelphia was named the top fanbase of 2025, it wasn’t just a nice headline. It was a well-earned badge of honor.
Because through the injuries, the tanking, the uncertainty, and the endless debates, Sixers fans stayed loud, loyal, and locked in. They didn’t just survive a brutal season - they turned it into a rallying cry. And now, with a young core rising and a playoff push in sight, that loyalty is paying off.
The future in Philly still has question marks. But one thing’s for sure: the fanbase isn’t going anywhere.