The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league with teams in the United States and Canada. Nearly every team, with one exception, has a squad of dancers for cheerleading that are usually involved in dancing, charity work, fundraisers, and modeling.NBA Dance Teams, I Love This Game, Manlyweb.com Recently, some NBA teams have expanded their previously all-girl teams to be more inclusive as part of efforts to appeal to a broader and rapidly growing audience.
Teams NBA TeamName Atlanta Hawks A-Town DancersAtlanta Hawks Dance Team Main Page THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE ATLANTA HAWKS Boston Celtics Celtics Dancers and Green TeamGame Night Entertainment Celtics.com - The official website of the Boston Celtics Brooklyn Nets BrooklynettesBrooklynettes Charlotte Hornets Charlotte Honey BeesHoneybees Chicago Bulls Chicago LuvabullsChicago Luvabulls THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE CHICAGO BULLS and Chicago Incredibulls Cleveland Cavaliers Cavs PowerHouse Dance Team Dallas Mavericks D-Town Crew (formerly Mavs Dancers)mavericks dancers THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE DALLAS MAVERICKS Denver Nuggets Nuggets DancersNUGGETS: 2009–10 Nuggets Dancers Detroit Pistons AutomotionAutomotion The Official Site Of The Detroit Pistons Golden State Warriors Warrior GirlsWARRIORS: Warrior Girls 2005–06 Houston Rockets Clutch City DancersROCKETS: Clutch City Dancers Indiana Pacers PacematesPacemates Home The Official Site Of The Indiana Pacers Los Angeles Clippers Spirit Dance TeamCLIPPERS: Los Angeles Clippers Spirit Dance Team Los Angeles Lakers Laker GirlsMeet the 2005–06 Laker Girls THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS Memphis Grizzlies Grizz Girls Miami Heat HEAT DancersHEAT: Miami HEAT Dancers Milwaukee Bucks EnergeeBUCKS: Energee! Minnesota Timberwolves Timberwolves Dance Team New Orleans Pelicans Pelicans Dance TeamPelicans Dance Team New York Knicks Knicks City DancersKnicks City Dancers – Home Oklahoma City Thunder Thunder GirlsOklahoma City Thunder Thunder Girls Orlando Magic Magic DancersMAGIC: 2011–12 Orlando Magic Dancers Philadelphia 76ers Sixers DancersSIXERS: 2011–12 Sixers Dancers Phoenix Suns Suns DancersSUNS: Phoenix Suns Dance Team Portland Trail Blazers Blazer DancersBLAZERS: Blazer Dancers and Blazers Stunt Team Sacramento Kings Kings Royal Court DancersKINGS: Kings Royal Court Dancers Toronto Raptors North Side Crew (formerly Dance Pak)RAPTORS: 2005–06 Raptors Dance Pak! Utah Jazz Jazz DancersJazz: Dance The Official Site Of The Utah Jazz Washington Wizards Wizards DancersWIZARDS: Wizards Dancers Washington Wizards
The only team currently without traditional NBA dancers is the San Antonio Spurs. Until 2018, they had a dance squad called the Silver Dancers.
Notable NBA cheerleaders
Atlanta Hawks Deneen Graham (1994) – Miss North Carolina 1983 Kaylin Reque (2008–11) – Miss Georgia USA 2011 Laurie Flynn – wife of Matt Schaub
Boston Celtics Michelle Leonardo (2013–present) – Miss New Jersey USA 2012
Brooklyn Nets Melissa Becraft (2017–present) – dancer, TikToker Cassie Yeung (2016–2018) – Chef, TikToker
Chicago Bulls Shanon Lersch (2004–09) – Miss Illinois USA 2008 Ashley Bond (2007–13) – Miss Illinois USA 2009 Maya Hayes (1996–1999) – dancer and choreographer Currently the Founder and President of the National Basketball Dancer Alumni Club est. 2023. She also served as the game day entertainment coordinator and choreographer for the Jr. Basketball League under the direction of Mr. LaVar Ball.
Dallas Mavericks Cindy Villarreal (1989–90) – choreographer Kandi Harris (2004–05) – wife of Hunter MahanUp & Down: It's good to be Hunter ... Mahan, that is - Golf, PGA Tour - CBSSports.com PGA, News, Leaderboard Scores, Schedule and Stats Jill Marie Jones – actress, Toni on Girlfriends Maya Hayes (2007–2009) – dancer and choreographer Currently the Founder and President of the National Basketball Dancer Alumni Club est. 2023. She also served as the game day entertainment coordinator and choreographer for the Jr. Basketball League under the direction of Mr. LaVar Ball.
Denver Nuggets Lindsey Kovacevich (2005–07) – anchor and reporter of KVAL-TV
Detroit Pistons Cassandra Ferguson – contestant on The Bachelor season 18 Heather Zara – traffic reporter of WDIV-TV
Golden State Warriors Bonnie-Jill Laflin (1992–94) – model, actress, television personality
Houston Rockets Natalie Alvarado (1997–2004) – singer and dance team director of the Minnesota Timberwolves Casey Potter (2016–2018) – director of the Houston Texans Cheerleaders
Indiana Pacers Angela Sparrow (2006–07) – Miss Illinois USA 2011 Jocelyn Peck (2013–present) – wife of Stanley Havili
Los Angeles Clippers Eve Torres (2006–07) – wrestler Jocelyn Peck (2010–12) – wife of Stanley Havili
Los Angeles Lakers Paula Abdul (1980s) – singer, dancer, choreographer, television personality Tina Landon (1980s) – dancer, choreographer Emily Harper (2000–03) – actress Cindy Leos (2000–01) – dancer, choreographer, celebrity trainer Sandra Colton (2002–03) – dancer, author Taylour Paige (2010) – dancer, actress Leah Van Dale (2010–11) – WWE wrestler Natasha Martinez (2011–12) – Miss California USA 2015 Moon Bloodgood – model, actress Vanessa Curry – singer
Memphis Grizzlies Stacey Tookey – dancer, choreographer
Miami Heat Jessica Sutta (1999–2002) – singer, dancer, actress, member of the pop girl group The Pussycat Dolls Trista Rehn (2000–02) – contestant on The Bachelor season 1 Jenni Croft (2005–06) – contestant on The Bachelor season 11 Layla El (2004–06) – model, dancer, actress, wrestler Hennely Jimenez (2006–07) – Actress, starred in the film 200 mph Kristina Akra – reporter for Fox Sports South Traci Young-Byron – (8 Year Vet) MTV's America's Best Dance Crew Season 3 Lifetime's Bring it Set it up
Milwaukee Bucks Tanya Fischer (2003–04) – Actress of The Defenders Bishara Dorre (2008–11) – Miss Wisconsin USA 2014
Minnesota Timberwolves Brittany Thelemann – Miss Minnesota USA 2011
New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets Denise Garvey (1999–2000) – former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, former New York Knicks dancer, director of the New York Jets Flight Crew Keltie Knight(2003–05) – Television entertainment reporter
New Orleans Hornets Dawn Richard – singer, dancer, former member of Danity Kane
New York Knicks Heather Van Arsdel (1998–2005) – WPTZ news anchor Denise Garvey (2001–05) – former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, former New Jersey Nets dancer, director of the New York Jets Flight Crew Asia Nitollano (2006–07) – singer, dancer, former Pussycat Doll Amanda Grace (2008) – director of the New Jersey Devils Ice Dancers Sarah Mitchell – dancer, actress Sydney Lotuaco (2015–18) – Contestant of The Bachelor season 23
Oklahoma City Thunder Kimberly Sullivan (2008–09) – contestant on The Bachelor season 14 Ali Dudek – singer (during the team's Seattle days)
Orlando Magic Megan Clementi (2003–08) – Miss Florida USA 2010 Trinity McCray – WWE wrestler Sandy Fox (1988–91) – Voice actress
Philadelphia 76ers Amber-Joi Watkins (2005–07) – Miss Pennsylvania USA 2011
Phoenix Suns Brittany Bell (2006–09) – Miss Arizona USA 2010 Jenni Croft (2006–09) – contestant on The Bachelor season 11 Kat Hurd (2013–present) – contestant on The Bachelor season 18 Tiffany Dunn – singer
Portland Trail Blazers Caysie Torrey (1997–98) – dancer, actress, clothing model Shannon Bex (1999–2004) – singer, dancer, former member of Danity Kane
Sacramento Kings Vanessa Born (2001–03) – actress and dancer Aubrey Aquino – TV reporter and hostAubrey Up Close
Toronto Raptors Nicole Arbour – YouTube comedian and provocateur Nikki Grant (2007–09) – actress
Utah Jazz Tiffany Coyne (2000–02) – Co-host and model on Let's Make a Deal on CBS Jocelyn Peck (2007–10) – wife of Stanley Havili Jessica Sanchez – morning traffic reporter of WKMG-TV
See also
NFL cheerleading NHL cheerleading
References
External links
Atlanta Hawks A-Town Dancers Official Site Boston Celtics Dancers Official Site Brooklyn Nets Brooklynettes Official Site Charlotte Honey Bees Official Site Chicago Bulls Luvabulls Official Site Cleveland Cavaliers Cavalier Girls Official Site Dallas Mavericks Mavs Dancers Official Site Denver Nuggets Dancers Official Site Detroit Pistons Automotion Official Site Golden State Warrior Girls Official Site Houston Rockets Power Dancers Official Site Indiana Pacers Pacemates Official Site Los Angeles Clippers Spirit Dancers Official Site Los Angeles Lakers Laker Girls Official Site Memphis Grizzlies Grizz Girls Official Site
Miami Heat HEAT Dancers Official Site Milwaukee Bucks Energee! Dancers Official Site Minnesota Timberwolves Dancers Official Site New Orleans Pelicans Dance Team Official Site New York Knicks City Dancers Official Site Oklahoma City Thunder Girls Official Site Orlando Magic Dancers Official Site Philadelphia 76ers Dance Team Official Site Phoenix Suns Dancers Official Site
Sacramento Kings Dancers Official Site San Antonio Spurs Silver Dancers Official Site Toronto Raptors Dance Pak Official Site Utah Jazz Dancers Official Site Washington Wizards Wizard Girls Official Site