How Much Are NBA Teams Worth?

A look at the NBA’s most valuable teams and what factors contribute to their worth.

The Business of Basketball

The NBA’s Business Model

The NBA is a massive global business with revenue of over $8 billion last year. The average NBA team is now worth $1.9 billion, up 13% from last year. The most valuable NBA team is the New York Knicks, worth $3.6 billion.

The NBA’s business model is based on three main revenue streams: TV rights, ticket sales, and merchandise sales. TV rights are the biggest source of revenue for the NBA, totaling $2.6 billion last year. Ticket sales generated $1.1 billion in revenue last year, while merchandise sales generated $800 million.

The NBA has been able to grow its revenue at a rapid pace in recent years due to the increasing popularity of the sport globally and the league’s ability to capitalize on new revenue streams like digital media rights and sponsorship deals. The league has also done a great job of signing long-term TV deals that guarantee huge sums of money regardless of how well the league is performing at any given moment.

Looking ahead, the NBA seems poised for continued growth as it looks to expand its global reach even further and continue to capitalize on new revenue streams.

NBA Team Values

The average NBA team is now worth $1.9 billion, up 13% over last year and 3.5 times what they were worth a decade ago. The New York Knicks lead the way at $3 billion, followed by the Los Angeles Lakers ($2.7 billion) and the Golden State Warriors ($2.6 billion).

The gap between the haves and have-nots among NBA teams is wider than ever. The Knicks, Lakers, Warriors, Chicago Bulls, and Brooklyn Nets are all worth at least $2.1 billion, while the bottom five teams—the Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies, and New Orleans Pelicans—are all worth less than $1 billion.

What’s driving the NBA’s soaring values? A combination of things: a new national TV contract that pays each team an average of $24 million per year (up from $930 million annually), a more than doubling of the league’s international TV rights fees to more than $700 million per year starting in 2016-17 season, growth in digital media revenues, and heavy demand for tickets and luxury suites at new arenas.

The Most Valuable NBA Teams

The New York Knicks

The New York Knicks are the most valuable NBA team, according to Forbes’ annual list. They are worth $4 billion, which is up 15% from last year. The Knicks are followed by the Los Angeles Lakers ($3.7 billion), the Golden State Warriors ($3.5 billion), the Chicago Bulls ($2.9 billion) and the Boston Celtics ($2.8 billion).

The Los Angeles Lakers

According to Forbes, the Los Angeles Lakers are the most valuable NBA team, worth $4.4 billion. The Lakers are followed by the New York Knicks ($4.3 billion), the Golden State Warriors ($3.1 billion), the Chicago Bulls ($2.6 billion), and the Boston Celtics ($2.5 billion).

The Golden State Warriors

The Warriors are currently the most valuable NBA team, according to Forbes. The franchise is worth an estimated $3.1 billion, which is up 15% from last year. The Warriors are coming off a season in which they won the NBA Finals for the second time in three years. The team has been helped by the acquisition of superstar Kevin Durant, who signed with the team in 2016. The Warriors play in the Oakland Coliseum, which is set to be replaced by a new arena in San Francisco in 2019.

The Least Valuable NBA Teams

The least valuable NBA teams are typically the ones that have been recently created or ones that have not been doing well in recent years. This is because the value of a team is based on its performance and history. The least valuable NBA team is currently the Charlotte Hornets, who are worth an estimated $600 million.

The Charlotte Hornets

With an estimated value of $1.05 billion, the Charlotte Hornets are the least valuable NBA team, according to Forbes. The franchise, which is owned by Michael Jordan, is worth less than half the league average. The Hornets have struggled on the court in recent years, posting a losing record in each of the last three seasons.

The team’s value could increase in the future if it can turn things around and start winning games. The Hornets have a solid young core of players, led by All-Star point guard Kemba Walker. If they can add a few more pieces and start contending for playoff spots, their value will go up.

The Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic are one of the least valuable NBA teams, according to a recent Forbes report. The Magic are worth an estimated $480 million, which is down 3% from last year. The team has struggled on the court in recent years, winning just 27 games last season. The team’s attendance has also declined, as the Magic averaged just under 15,000 fans per game last season.

The Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies are the least valuable NBA team, according to Forbes’ annual valuation of NBA franchises. The franchise is valued at $1.3 billion, which is down 8% from last year. The Grizzlies have been plagued by financial problems in recent years, and the team has struggled on the court as well.