TikTok has revolutionized the way we engage with our favorite sports - with bite-sized, real-time clips hitting home with fans of all ages. Basketball is especially popular across the app, with 64% of TikTok sports fans following basketball in particular1. Last year saw 27 billion total views across NBA-related posts, proving just how much of an appetite there is for scroll-friendly sports content on TikTok2.

Keeping the Momentum Going: How to Stay Engaged on TikTok Beyond the Season

Now that one of the most socially driven seasons of the year has wrapped up for 2025, what key takeaways can publishers learn from the most successful strategies? While there’s no magic formula, the secret lies in owning the defining moments that make basketball so exciting.

The buzzer may have sounded on the 2025 March Madness season, but the conversation doesn’t have to stop. Maintaining a strong presence on TikTok year-round means evolving your content strategy to keep fans engaged, whether they’re reliving past highlights, following player journeys, or anticipating what’s next. Here’s how publishers can sustain momentum beyond the tournament:

Keep the Hype Alive

Keep your audience engaged by sharing:

  • Exclusive interviews with players and coaches reflecting on the games and season.
  • Archival highlights and unforgettable moments that continue to spark nostalgia.
  • Player narratives that follow rising stars, draft prospects, or college athletes making their next move.
  • Fan-driven content like bracket reactions, debates, and predictions for the upcoming season.

Expanding the Conversation

Even when the games stop, basketball culture never does. Stay part of the action by tapping into:

  • Live sports moments beyond the college tournament, like NBA playoffs, international leagues, and summer showcases.
  • Crossover trends where basketball meets fashion, music, and pop culture.
  • Meme-worthy moments and community-driven content that keep fans engaged between seasons.
  • Behind-the-scenes storytelling that brings a fresh angle to well-known players and teams.

Turning Moments into Movements

Drive your audience further down your funnel by giving them more to be excited about. Weave March Madness moments into larger basketball narratives, like the NBA Draft and alumni success stories to build long-lasting trust and relevance in the basketball space.

Some Final Pointers For Publishers

Creating a winning TikTok strategy involves an always-on approach to sports storytelling, staying on the ball with the quality, quantity, and timeliness of your posts. Capturing big moments promptly, creating share-worthy memes and participating in trends will set you up for a clean lay-up. Finally, rethink search and discovery as a fan engagement tool - using hashtags, thumbnails and editing to your advantage when getting involved.