Basketball-Reference
A statistics database for NBA, WNBA and college basketball.
Basketball-Reference at a glance
Basketball-Reference is a sports website and one of the most visited sites in United States, currently ranked #332 in the country. It was founded in 2003 by Sean Forman and is headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, USA. Today Basketball-Reference is owned by Sports Reference LLC. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 60 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through advertising, subscriptions. Its closest rivals include espn.com, nba.com, baseball-reference.com.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 56.4 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 58.2 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 60 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 63.6 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct45%
- Organic search30%
- Social16%
- Referral6%
- Paid3%
Audience & demographics
- Men74%
- Women26%
- Age 18-2427%
- Age 25-3431%
- Age 35-4422%
The audience is concentrated in United States, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- United States86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 18 million visits / month
- Branded share of search
- High — brand terms lead the keyword profile
- Indexed pages
- Large — category, listing or article level
- Primary search market
- United States
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| basketball-reference | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| live scores | Top 10 | High | — |
| match results | Top 10 | High | — |
| league table | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the United States web
Top referral sources
- News and media31%
- Directories and aggregators24%
- Blogs and forums20%
- Partner sites14%
- Other11%
Technology stack
Website technologies
Advertising & analytics technologies
Stack details are inferred from public front-end signals and engineering communications; internal systems may differ.
Mobile app statistics
Available in the local store
Available in the local store
- App share of traffic
- ≈ 83% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading sports apps in United States
Company information
- Website
- basketball-reference.com
- Sector
- Sports
- Owner
- Sports Reference LLC
- Owner type
- Subsidiary of private company
- Founders
- Sean Forman
- Founded
- 2003
- Headquarters
- Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Employees
- 50+
- Ownership
- Sports Reference LLC controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $40 million annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- English
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, social
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $40 million annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Subsidiary of private company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
Basketball-Reference operates a sports media platform focused on United States. A statistics database for NBA, WNBA and college basketball. Revenue comes mainly from advertising, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Advertising
- Subscriptions
Products & services
Related deals on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, Global Site Index earns from qualifying purchases.
International presence
- Primary market
- United States
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (United States)
- #332 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading sports site in United States
- Global rank
- 1200
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| espn.com | ≈ 36 million / month | #333 class competitor | — |
| nba.com | ≈ 27 million / month | #334 class competitor | — |
| baseball-reference.com | ≈ 18 million / month | #335 class competitor | — |
What is Basketball-Reference?
Basketball-Reference (basketball-reference.com) is a sports media platform serving users in United States. A statistics database for NBA, WNBA and college basketball. It ranks #332 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the sports category.
Who owns Basketball-Reference?
The site is operated by Sports Reference LLC, founded by Sean Forman. The company was established in 2003 and is headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, USA. It employs around 50+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place Basketball-Reference at roughly 60 million visits per month, about 2 million per day. Around 83% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 4.8 pages per visit with an average session of 5 min.
How Basketball-Reference makes money
Revenue comes primarily from advertising, alongside subscriptions.
Competitors in United States
Its closest rivals include espn.com, nba.com, baseball-reference.com.
Data and accuracy
Company facts are drawn from public sources. Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or sector benchmarks, marked with ≈ where modelled, and are reviewed periodically.
Company history & milestones
- 2003
Basketball-Reference is founded in Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Growth phase
Expands its sports offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #332 among the most visited websites in United States.
User reviews & ratings
| Source | Score | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | ≈ 4.3 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| App Store | ≈ 4.5 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| Consumer review platforms | Mixed | — | Service and support are common themes |
App store ratings are solid, while consumer review platforms show the usual friction around support and service quality.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Live scores and fast match reporting
- Deep coverage of national leagues
- Free access to most content
- Strong mobile and app experience
Cons
- Ad-heavy match pages
- Betting advertising throughout
- Rumour-driven transfer coverage
- Video rights limit highlights
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Basketball-Reference?
Basketball-Reference is operated by Sports Reference LLC. Subsidiary of private company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is Basketball-Reference headquartered?
Basketball-Reference is headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, USA.
When was Basketball-Reference founded?
Basketball-Reference was founded in 2003 by Sean Forman.
How many employees does Basketball-Reference have?
Basketball-Reference employs approximately 50+ people.
What is Basketball-Reference's revenue?
Basketball-Reference's revenue: ≈ $40 million annual revenue (est.).
Who are Basketball-Reference's competitors?
Main competitors in United States include espn.com, nba.com, baseball-reference.com.
How does Basketball-Reference make money?
Mainly advertising, subscriptions.
Is Basketball-Reference publicly traded?
No — Basketball-Reference is not listed as an independent public company; it is operated by Sports Reference LLC.
How many visitors does Basketball-Reference get?
Third-party estimates place Basketball-Reference at roughly 60 million visits per month, mostly from United States, with 83% mobile traffic.
Is Basketball-Reference safe?
Basketball-Reference is an established sports site founded in 2003 and ranked #332 in United States; use the official domain basketball-reference.com and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementsbasketball-reference.com
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageUnited States and international business media
- Data confidence
- Medium for company facts, medium-low for traffic and financial estimates. All modelled figures are rounded and marked with ≈.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or derived from sector benchmarks, and are reviewed periodically.
Social media profiles & statistics
Official brand account
Announcements and support
Community and campaigns
Company and hiring updates
Brand and product videos