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Basketball players are among the most revered athletes on the planet and fans turn up in numbers to catch their favourite stars in action on a nightly basis.
However, not content with just the on-court drama, fans often crave for glimpses of what their idols get up to when the cameras are not rolling.
The rise in popularity of social media, Instagram in particular, has provided fans with the opportunity to keep a close eye on what their favourite basketball stars are up to off the court.
The players, in turn, know exactly how to keep their audience entertained; from blow-by-blow accounts of workout routines to candid vacation snaps, NBA stars often share their most intimate moments with the fans.
As a result, they have racked up a massive following on the social media platform and here we take a look at the 5 most followed active NBA players on Instagram:
#5 Kevin Durant (11.6m followers)
A few years ago, Kevin Durant would not have made this list, but his move to the Golden State Warriors propelled him to superstardom.
Durant guided the Warriors to back-to-back championships, which no doubt endeared him to fans in the Bay Area.
His move to Brooklyn this offseason has also contributed to a rise in his Instagram following and he is currently the fifth most-followed NBA superstar on the social media platform.
Durant often takes to Instagram to post throwback pictures from his childhood, as well as his latest photo shoots.
#4 Kyrie Irving (13.4m followers)
Aside from being arguably the best ball-handler in the NBA, Kyrie Irving is also one of the most marketable active players.
He's appeared in advertisements as well as TV shows and has struck deals with the likes of Pepsi and Nike among others, all of which have contributed to his massive fan-following on social media.
Irving has 13.4m followers on Instagram, where he posts videos and photos of himself on vacation, playing basketball, and spending time with his family.
He also often posts pictures of his signature sneaker collections, which are highly coveted the world over.
#3 Russell Westbrook (14.1m followers)
Russell Westbrook is one of the most athletic and gifted players to have ever graced the NBA, and he is as dynamic off the court as he is on it.
Off-court, Westbrook is best known for his eccentric - for lack of a better word - sense of fashion which has earned him plenty of plaudits as well as opportunities to grace the cover of several leading fashion magazines.
Westbrook often takes to Instagram to post pictures of his family as well as his latest get-ups and he does not shy away from occasional narcissism.
#2 Steph Curry (27.5m followers)
With 27.5m followers, Steph Curry occupies the second spot on this list. The first-ever unanimous MVP in NBA history, Curry's Instagram is mostly dedicated to pictures of his family, while ardent fans can also catch a closer look at the three-time champion's career and personal life through the “Stephen vs The Game" series.
Curry also often posts hilarious prank videos on his Instagram, showing fans a whole new side of the Golden State Warriors star.
#1 LeBron James (52.7m followers)
Who else could it possibly be? LeBron James is the most followed NBA player on Instagram with a whopping 52.7 million followers.
After spending four successful years in Cleveland and helping his hometown franchise end their championship drought, LeBron opted for a change in scenery, moving to the Los Angeles Lakers, which would have no doubt boosted his follower count by a few million at the very least.
King James has racked up a massive fan following in his 15+ year career in the NBA, thanks in part to his charitable off-court actions.
Easily one of the most marketable athletes on the planet, LeBron has struck endorsement deals with the likes of Audemars Piguet, Coca-Cola, Nike and McDonald's among others.
He is also the only basketballer to feature in the list of the top 50 most-followed accounts on Instagram.
