Billion dollar club: all 30 NBA teams reach milestone valuation

Forbes reveals that the New York Knicks are again the highest valued NBA team

NBA team values Knicks Lakers Forbes rich list
New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers rank number one and two in the Forbes list
(Image credit: Harry How/Getty Images)

All 30 NBA franchises are each worth more than $1billion (£714million) for the first time ever, according to Forbes.

Topping the NBA rich list for the third year in succession are the New York Knicks, who are valued at a massive $3.6bn (£2.56bn) and the lowest valued team are the New Orleans Pelicans at $1bn (£714m).

The LA Lakers are in second place, valued at $3.3bn (£2.35bn), with the Golden State Warriors ($3.1bn; £2.2bn), Chicago Bulls ($2.6bn; £1.85bn) and Boston Celtics ($2.5bn; £1.78bn) making up the top five.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Forbes' data reveals that the average NBA team value is $1.65bn (£1.17bn) - a 22% increase from last year and three times more than the average values of five years ago. ESPN reports that the nine-year US TV rights deal with ESPN/ABC and Turner is valued at $24bn (£1.7bn). Running until the 2024-2025 season, the TV package is a major reason for the increase in team values.

Compared to American football, a typical NBA team is worth 52% less than an NFL franchise, says Forbes writer Kurt Badenhausen, but the NBA has greater international growth potential.

Badenhausen said: “It’s not outrageous anymore to envision a sports world in which NBA teams are worth more than their NFL counterparts. Investors believe the NBA has far greater potential to grow overseas than the NFL, which has struggled beyond the United States. NBA revenue outside the US is growing at a rate in the high teens annually.”

Top ten NBA team valuations

  • New York Knicks: $3.6 billion (£2.56bn)
  • Los Angeles Lakers: $3.3bn (£2.35bn)
  • Golden State Warriors: $3.1bn (£2.2bn)
  • Chicago Bulls: $2.6bn (£1.85bn)
  • Boston Celtics: $2.5bn (£1.78bn)
  • Brooklyn Nets: $2.3bn (£1.63bn)
  • Houston Rockets: $2.2bn (£1.56bn)
  • Los Angeles Clippers: $2.15bn (£1.53bn)
  • Dallas Mavericks: $1.9bn (£1.35bn)
  • Miami Heat: $1.7bn (£1.2bn)
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us