The Golden State Warriors are the most valuable NBA team at $7.7 billion, an increase of 10% from a year ago, according to Forbes, which provides an estimate of the value of the 30 NBA franchises.
The Warriors generated $765 million in revenue (net of arena debt service and revenue sharing) during the 2022-23 season, 48% more the any other team. The New York Knicks ($6.6 billion) and Los Angeles Lakers ($6.4 billion) are the other teams worth more than $6 billion.
Per the report, the average NBA team is worth $3.85 billion, an increase of 35% from a year ago. Overall, the value of all franchises has increased between 8% and 76%, and none of them now have a valuation of less than $ 2 billion.
Obviously, one of the reasons for the inflation was the trades that took place over the last year, and the palatability manifested in the sale of the Suns (for $4 billion) and then the Hornets (for $3 billion).
Furthermore, the franchises’ value has been increased by speculations about the upcoming renegotiation of television rights. The league’s current deal for U.S. rights with ESPN and Turner Sports averages a total of $2.66 billion a season through 2024-25, while international rights are splintered among many distributors (including DAZN and Sky Sports) and bring in about $500 million annually.
“The consensus from media experts and sports bankers is that by bringing in new distributors such as Apple, YouTube TV and Amazon Prime, and bundling its international rights, the NBA will more than double the value of its current media rights,” the report mentions.
As the league has been planning its expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle, sports bankers tell Forbes that the expansion teams will likely fetch between $4 billion to $5 billion each. That would mean the league’s 30 current owners would each pocket $267 million.
This is how much every NBA franchise is worth, according to Forbes:
1. Golden State Warriors $7.7 billion (+10%)
2. New York Knicks: $ 6.6 billion (+8%)
3. Los Angeles Lakers: $ 6.4 billion (+8%)
4. Boston Celtics: $ 4.7 billion (+18%)
5. Los Angeles Clippers: $ 4.65 billion (+19%)
6. Chicago Bulls: $ 4.6 billion (+12%)
7. Dallas Mavericks : $ 4.5 billion (+36%)
8. Houston Rockets: $ 4.4 billion (+38%)
9. Philadelphia 76ers: $ 4.3 billion (+37%)
10. Toronto Raptors: $ 4.1 billion (+32%)
11. Phoeni Sun Suns: $ 4 billion (+48%)
12. Miami Heat: $ 3.9 billion (+30%)
13. Brooklyn Nets: $ 3.85 billion (+10%)
14. Washington Wizards: $ 3.5 billion (+40%)
15. Denver Nuggets: $ 3.38 billion (+75%)
16. Cleveland Cavaliers: $ 3.35 billion (+63%)
17. Sacramento Kings: $ 3.33 billion (+64%)
18. Atlanta Hawks: $3.3 billion (+68%)
19. San Antonio Spurs: $ 3.25 billion (+63%)
20. Milwaukee Bucks: $ 3.2 billion (+39%)
21. Utah Jazz: $ 3.09 billion (+53%)
22. Portland Trail Blazers: $ 3.08 billion (+47%)
23. Detroit Pistons : $ 3.08 billion (+62%)
24. Oklahoma City Thunder: $ 3.05 billion (+63%) )
25. Charlotte Hornets: $ 3 billion (+76%)
26. Orlando Magic: $ 2.95 billion (+59%)
27. Indiana Pacers: $ 2.9 billion (+61%)
28. New Orleans Pelicans: $ 2.55 billion (+59%)
29. Minnesota Timberwolves: $ 2.5 billion (+50%)
30. Memphis Grizzlies: $ 2.4 billion (+45%)