Skip to main content
Come Fan with UsTuesday, August 4, 2026

Fast, Exciting, Old, Welp: Presenting NBA Word Association Day

What’s the first word that pops into your head when you think of the Lakers? The Heat? The Celtics? We asked NBA bloggers about all 30 teams, and these are the results.

Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire

Continuing our offseason series of themed posts around the NBA blogs of SB Nation, this week we’ve got something a little different. All of the team bloggers were asked to provide a word or short phrase that they associate with each team. No further instructions were given, so whether the respondent chose to describe the current team or the franchise in general is unknown and up to them.

After everyone had provided their words, the lists were sent to the team bloggers for their reaction. Below are the posts that resulted. Perhaps it’s not surprising that bloggers are a cynical lot, but I sure was struck by the fact that bloggers are a cynical lot.

In case you missed any of them, be sure to check out the earlier installments in SB Nation’s series of themed posts:

Word Association Day: What Do Other Bloggers Think About the Sixers? - Liberty Ballers
What do NBA bloggers think about the Sixers?

Word Association Day: Bobcats: Welp - Rufus on Fire
Word association game time! What words do SB Nation's Basketball bloggers associate with the Charlotte Bobcats?

Word Association Day: Old vs. New - Fear The Sword
What first comes to mind when you think of the Cleveland Cavaliers?

Word Association Day: Where Everyone Thinks We’re Old - CelticsBlog
We continue our SBNation themed posts with Word Association Day. This week we were asked to give one word thoughts on every team in the league.

Word Association Day: Hawks Get No Love - Peachtree Hoops
The Atlanta Hawks didn't fare very well in the SB Nation NBA Word Association project, perhaps justifying the summer moves by GM Danny Ferry. See what words were chosen and what words PTH used to define the other teams in the league.

Word Association Day: Playing with the Miami Heat - Hot Hot Hoops
SB Nation NBA bloggers pondered over what word immediately comes to mind for each team in a recent survey and the results for the champion Miami Heat team were interesting, to say the least.

Word Association Day: Pacers Word Association - Indy Cornrows
What word describes the Indiana Pacers? SB Nation NBA bloggers answered that question with some interesting results.

Word Association Day: What Word Comes to Mind for the Clippers? - Clips Nation
Today is NBA Word Association Day, where the NBA bloggers of SB Nation react to the words associated with their teams. Spoiler alert -- not everyone loves the Clippers.

Word Association Day: Memphis Grizzlies - Straight Outta Vancouver
NBA Word Association Day, in which the Grizzlies are thought to be gritty, burly and in a sense, underwhelming.

Word Association Day: Man, The Kings Are Depressing - Sactown Royalty
What do other teams’ bloggers think about the Kings? UGH UGH UGH.

Word Association Day: Denver Nuggets - Denver Stiffs
Our bloggers, across the sites, submitted one-word to describe all the NBA teams. Let's see what was said about our Denver Nuggets ...

Word Association Day: What Does America Think Of The Phoenix Suns? - Bright Side Of The Sun
We each got a list of all NBA teams and fired off the first word that came to mind about that franchise. And the results were quite interesting.

Word Association Day: The Thunder Are Talented, Yet Stolen - Welcome to Loud City
We take a quick look at the words other bloggers used to describe the Thunder. Watch out for the man-babies!

Word Association Day: The Timberwolves are.... - Canis Hoopus
Your best source for quality Minnesota Timberwolves news, rumors, analysis, stats and scores from the fan perspective.

Word Association Day: Blazers - Blazer's Edge
What do other NBA bloggers think about the Portland Trail Blazers? Word association runs wild here.

See More:

More in NBA

NBA
NBA free agent predictions for biggest names still availableNBA free agent predictions for biggest names still available
NBA

Let’s predict the landing spots for the NBA’s top remaining free agents.

By Ricky O'Donnell
NBA
7 NBA teams who will be way better than last year7 NBA teams who will be way better than last year
NBA

These NBA teams are going to be a lot better in the upcoming season than they were last year.

By Ricky O'Donnell
NBA
Why LeBron James chose the 76ers in NBA free agency, and his big bet on Jaylen BrownWhy LeBron James chose the 76ers in NBA free agency, and his big bet on Jaylen Brown
NBA

LeBron James *really* wanted to play with Jaylen Brown

By Ricky O'Donnell
NBA
NBA Reacts: Are the LeBron Sixers the best team in the East?NBA Reacts: Are the LeBron Sixers the best team in the East?
NBA

The 76ers have more talent than anyone in the Eastern Conference, but will it turn into enough wins to win the East?

By Kyle Thele
NBA
Steph Curry to the Hornets is the wild NBA rumor that might have legsSteph Curry to the Hornets is the wild NBA rumor that might have legs
NBA

This makes so much sense, and it’s so irresponsible.

By James Dator