The NBA is a star-driven league. Achieving the status as a title contender is nearly impossible without having at least one top 10 player, even if team performance around that star player is just as important. Not only that, but stars bring a fanbase. To illustrate this, I will share a quick example as a college professor.
Over the last 20 years, I have consistently asked students visiting my office if they follow the NBA and have a favorite team. Interestingly, the answers have changed, but not as you might think. The response hasn’t shifted from one team (eg, the Lakers) to another team (eg, Warriors).