1. Proprietary & Confidential – Not for Duplication or Distribution Activ8Social, LLC © 2012 Best of the NBA: Social Media May 2013

2. Proprietary & Confidential – Not for Duplication or Distribution Activ8Social, LLC © 2012 Top Ten Best Teams The regular season has come and gone, from a 27 game streak to sidelining injuries, this season has been one for the books. But what about social media? These days its not just about the game, its about who’s talking, or tweeting, about the game. Here at Activ8Social, we decided to take a look at teams that are dominating the social media court. We looked at all around social media, from content on Twitter to interactions on Facebook. How many followers do they have on Instagram? Do they use other platforms like Pinterest? Have they used social media to run promotions and campaigns? After these careful considerations we came up with the ten best social media teams, take a look at who tops our list…

3. Proprietary & Confidential – Not for Duplication or Distribution Activ8Social, LLC © 2012 #1 Miami Heat @ miamiheat Instagram: MiamiHeat Facebook: 7,982,745 “Likes” Twitter: 1,208,609 Followers Instagram: 524,239 Followers Although second in audience size, Miami takes the cake for the number one social team. They out number the Lakers in terms of response comments, post likes, and Facebook shares. Miami may have less Twitter followers but they receive more re-tweets and have higher engagement rates.With nearly 1,200 Instagram pics, when it comes to interacting with fans, no one beats Miami. Signature hashtags like #WhiteHot and #LETSGOHEAT lead the way for their Twitter and Instagram campaigns. They also have a mobile app featuring the HEAT Mobile Fan Gallery.

4. Proprietary & Confidential – Not for Duplication or Distribution Activ8Social, LLC © 2012 #2 Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers Instagram: Lakers Facebook: 16,286,767 “Likes” Twitter: 3,080,539 Followers Instagram: 717,267 Followers Arguably the most recognizable sports team in the world, as illustrated here through their impressive social media numbers. Although haunted by an injury plagued season the Lakers still managed to rally fans by posting visually engaging photos with constant player updates. The Lakers mastered the effective content strategy by sharing personal player insights, like Kobe’s agonizing vent about his season ending injury.

5. Proprietary & Confidential – Not for Duplication or Distribution Activ8Social, LLC © 2012 #3 Boston Celtics @celtics Instagram: celtics Facebook: 6,913,021“Likes” Twitter: 1,055,528 Followers Instagram: 399,826 Followers They don’t quite have the numbers that Miami and LA do, but their social media efforts make a strong case. In the aftermath of the recent tragic Marathon events, the Celtics took to social media to show their city support. They used Instagram to post photos of player visits to hospitals as well as jerseys and accessories in honor of the Boston victims. Not only do they know effective crisis management, they dominate the Facebook world with their 3-Point Play app, allowing fans to make stat predictions for players each game – constantly drawing fans back. They also have the largest Pinterest following. Social media downside? Twitter account acts more like a diary and focuses less on stat and team updates.

6. Proprietary & Confidential – Not for Duplication or Distribution Activ8Social, LLC © 2012 #4 New York Knicks @nyknicks Instagram: nyknicks Facebook: 3,647,289 “Likes” Twitter: 581,347 Followers Instagram: 286,089 Followers The Knicks have mastered the effective content strategy. They utilize Facebook for engaging campaigns such as Scavenger Hunts and photo contests. Their Twitter account features a ‘Knicks Celebrity #BoroughCaptain’, who takes over the Twitter handle in attempts to get the fans pumped before a game. They’ve mastered the art of the hashtag on both Twitter and Instagram, but lack a large audience like Miami, Boston, and LA.

7. Proprietary & Confidential – Not for Duplication or Distribution Activ8Social, LLC © 2012 #5 Golden State Warriors @warriors Instagram: officalwarriors Facebook: 432,785 “Likes” Twitter: 196,504 Followers Instagram: 64,744 Followers Aside from its very small audience, the Warriors are one of the best engaging social media teams. They host a Social Media Night, Tweedia Day, Tweet Up, and #DubTheVote All-Star voting contest. They lead the league in Check-Ins and frequently run Facebook campaigns such as “Playoff Ticket Scavenger Hunt”. They are active on Pinterest, Tumblr, and Instagram.

8. Proprietary & Confidential – Not for Duplication or Distribution Activ8Social, LLC © 2012 #6 Oklahoma City Thunder @okcthunder Instagram: okcthunder Facebook: 1,988,479 “Likes” Twitter: 492,818 Followers Instagram: 223,703 Followers They may not be the biggest franchise in the league, but they know a thing or two about social media. The OKC Twitter account is a good balance between live stat reports, recaps, player updates, and engaging photos and videos. Instagram pics give fans a behind the scenes peak at what goes on at practice and post game happenings. They frequently post interview videos from their YouTube account to Facebook along with player highlights.

9. Proprietary & Confidential – Not for Duplication or Distribution Activ8Social, LLC © 2012 #7 Chicago Bulls @chicagobulls Instagram: chicagobulls Facebook: 8,557,867 “Likes” Twitter: 764,523 Followers Instagram: 250,346 Followers Impressive social media numbers, but Facebook somewhat lacks creativity and originality. Chicago makes good use of visually engaging photos, like throwbacks of Michael Jordan, however they fail to completely engage with audience. Twitter proves to be more their strong suite as they keep fans up to date with live stats and player news. The Bulls attempt to interact with fans on Twitter by tweeting away clues to win tickets and enabling hashtags to enter photo contests. Such a large franchise could afford to increase their Instagram presence, but they have a very well received presence on other platforms like Google+.

10. Proprietary & Confidential – Not for Duplication or Distribution Activ8Social, LLC © 2012 #8 Orlando Magic @orlando_magic Instagram: magicnba Facebook: 1,774,005 “Likes” Twitter: 1,097,158 Followers Instagram: 15,634 Followers Almost every Facebook post features a visually stimulating picture. Interestingly enough, they often feature content that doesn’t directly relate to the franchise but the league as a whole, like past and present photos of NBA greats. Ending posts with “Let us know what you think” makes the Magic Facebook a very interactive space for fans. Orlando Twitter feed is similar content wise, appealing to a larger audience. Twitter features effective use of the Orlando #WeWill hashtag, and amidst the off season focuses on community events and season highlights and recaps. Good content on Instagram, but desperately needs to increase its presence.

11. Proprietary & Confidential – Not for Duplication or Distribution Activ8Social, LLC © 2012 #9 Dallas Mavericks @dallasmavs Instagram: dallasmavs Facebook: 2,536,634 “Likes” Twitter: 292,706 Followers Instagram: 56,773 Followers Mavs Facebook features a good amount of solid video content. They also take advantage of Facebook’s “highlight” ability to showcase key events like Dirks 25,000 points (which received over 25,000 ‘likes’ itself). They often retweet notable player and fan posts, and tweet out information about charity events and what the players are up to off the court. During season Twitter offers good play by play analysis, often important for fans. The Mavs Instagram is filled with fans attending games and personal player pics like game day shoes!

12. Proprietary & Confidential – Not for Duplication or Distribution Activ8Social, LLC © 2012 #10 San Antonio Spurs @spurs Instagram: officalspurs Facebook: 1,503,358 “Likes” Twitter: 289,288 Followers Instagram: 21,003 Followers One of the only teams that directly links their Facebook account to their Pinterest page, which features fan art, Spurs gear, and Spurs charity events. Facebook showcases a visually engaging photo with almost every post, but like many other teams, lacks original content. Spurs Twitter account is a good source for keeping fans in the loop during games, but isn’t used as an effective marketing strategy, as it lacks creativity and personality.

13. Proprietary & Confidential – Not for Duplication or Distribution Activ8Social, LLC © 2012 East vs. West Match Up It’s no secret the West took the title for the 2013 NBA All Star game, but how will they fair against the East in the world of social media?

14. Proprietary & Confidential – Not for Duplication or Distribution Activ8Social, LLC © 2012 Audience 1,294,798 1,689,534 6,006,643 5,858,187

15. Proprietary & Confidential – Not for Duplication or Distribution Activ8Social, LLC © 2012 Top 10 Players (in terms of followings and ‘likes) East: LeBron James Dwayne Wade Carmelo Anthony Paul Pierce West: Kobe Bryant Kevin Durant Dwight Howard Pau Gasol Lamar Odom Chris Paul

16. Proprietary & Confidential – Not for Duplication or Distribution Activ8Social, LLC © 2012 Top 5 Athletes Okay, so you’ve seen the best teams and the best conference. But what about the best players? Is there one player that dominates socially? Who is the best tweeter? Among our criterion we looked at frequency of posts, content, and fan engagement.

17. Proprietary & Confidential – Not for Duplication or Distribution Activ8Social, LLC © 2012 #1 LeBron James @KingJames Instagram: kingjames Facebook: 13,975,436 “Likes” Twitter: 8,228,583 Followers Instagram: 2,368,105 Followers The most followed baller on Twitter. Normally a pretty avid tweeter, he has since taken a break during the playoffs. He often tweets about current events and everyday life with his Fiancé and their two sons. Offers a real life look into the MVP off the court. His Facebook often features photos hanging out with friends and the events he attends.

18. Proprietary & Confidential – Not for Duplication or Distribution Activ8Social, LLC © 2012 #2 Kobe Bryant @kobebryant Instagram: kobebryant Facebook: 16,222,924 “Likes” Twitter: 2,493,438 Followers Instagram: 780,086 Followers Newest to the Twitter game, but already one of the most popular players to take to tweeting. Since his benching injury, he has offered game analysis and acted more as a sideline reporter than a teammate. Kobe’s also new to the Instagram game but offers a nice look into his family life.

19. Proprietary & Confidential – Not for Duplication or Distribution Activ8Social, LLC © 2012 #3 Steph Curry @StephenCurry30 Instagram: stephencurry_30 Facebook: 302,510 “Likes” Twitter: 667,149 Followers Instagram: 1,23,961 Followers The first athlete to truly embrace Vine. He ran a contest using the app asking fans to create a 6 second video to tell Curry why he should call them. He picked a dozen winners and personally delivered a phone call to these star struck fans. He is also a pro tweeter, especially during March Madness where you could find him cheering on his younger brother Seth playing for Duke. He loves to give away tickets on Twitter, like when he reached 500k followers and made one lucky fans’ day.

20. Proprietary & Confidential – Not for Duplication or Distribution Activ8Social, LLC © 2012 #4 Metta World Peace @mettaworldpeace Instagram: theronandmettashow Facebook: 186,865 “Likes” Twitter: 615,694 Followers Instagram: 27,711 Followers The leagues most eccentric player is just as outspoken on social media. One of the most interactive players on Twitter, often asks fans questions like “Who will win the title?” and frequently retweets answers. Posts to Facebook multiple times a day and his Instagram is just what you would expect… Weird.

21. Proprietary & Confidential – Not for Duplication or Distribution Activ8Social, LLC © 2012 #5 Kevin Love @kevinlove @Instagram: KevinLove Facebook: 328,642 “Likes” Twitter: 602,302 Followers Instagram: 201,873 Followers The leagues resident prankster. Much of his time at the Summer Olympics was spent taking pictures of teammates asleep with the hashtag“#gotem”. Other than that he’s posting funny pics on Instagram like this one with KD. His Facebook is full of sponsored posts and links to the numerous charity events he’s involved with.

22. Proprietary & Confidential – Not for Duplication or Distribution Activ8Social, LLC © 2012 Rising Stars While not quite NBA stars just yet, these NCAA players are already running circles around their college teammates. From an overnight phenom to a controversial “bad boy” these college hoopsters sure know a thing or two about what it takes to win the social media game…

23. Proprietary & Confidential – Not for Duplication or Distribution Activ8Social, LLC © 2012 Kevin Ware @_billionairebev Instagram:billionairebev No surprise here. After his gruesome injury, the newly acclaimed sports hero captured the hearts of the American people with his humility and positive attitude. Ware’s Facebook mentions increased 196,000 percent and was the subject of several trending Twitter hashtags such as #PrayForWare and #WinForWare. Over 175,00 followers on Twitter Mentioned on Twitter by LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Bryce Harper, and Eric LeGrand

24. Proprietary & Confidential – Not for Duplication or Distribution Activ8Social, LLC © 2012 Marshall Henderson @nativeflash22 Never known for holding back, Henderson has become the notorious bad boy of the NCAA. If he’s not taunting players or fans on the court, rest assured he’s stirring up some controversy on Twitter… he now has over 70,000 followers. I SUCK AND GET A LEBRON TWEET!!! HAHAHAHA I DONT WANNA HEAR NOBODY SAY NOTHIN, IVE MADE IT!!!” “

25. Proprietary & Confidential – Not for Duplication or Distribution Activ8Social, LLC © 2012 Peyton Siva @peypeysiva3 Instagram: peypeysiva A star of this year’s March Madness tournament, Siva is an avid Instagramer with more than 98,000 followers. He often posts pictures hanging out with his teammates and allows a sneak-peek into his life off the court. But a lesson to young ballers, stay away from, um… “adult stars”. After winning the national title and thanking his girlfriend, a resentful self proclaimed Twitter model went on a social media rant posting private messages and photos between her and Siva. Like many other young athletes, Peyton fell victim to the transparency of social media. Moral of the story; beware of what you share.

26. Proprietary & Confidential – Not for Duplication or Distribution Activ8Social, LLC © 2012 Trey Burke @trey_burke3 instragram: tr3yburke Burke, the National Player of the Year, is one of the few college athletes to have a verified Twitter account – and he’s only a sophomore! Talk about the big leagues! 80,000+ followers on Twitter Over 100,000 followers on Instagram 14,000 Likes on Facebook

27. Proprietary & Confidential – Not for Duplication or Distribution Activ8Social, LLC © 2012 Even with the 2013 season wrapping up, one thing is for sure, social media never stops. The off season can be just as important as in season. When it comes to engaging your fans it’s a 365 day gig. So tell us, what do you think? Who will be the reigning social media champ during the off season? Will Miami take another title? With Steph Curry dominating this post season, will he continue to master social media this summer? Who knows, but here at Activ8Social we’ll keep you up to date on all the answers…

28. Proprietary & Confidential – Not for Duplication or Distribution Activ8Social, LLC © 2012