NBA franchises have reached new heights, as Forbes revealed in its rankings of the league’s most valuable teams.
For the first time in NBA history, the league has three franchises worth more than $5 billion each.
- New York Knicks — $5.8 billion
- Golden State Warriors — $5.6 billion
- Los Angeles Lakers — $5.5 billion
Despite a 2020-21 season with limited live attendance, the average value of an NBA franchise is up to $2.48 billion, a 13% increase since February.
The uptick is a result of increased sponsorships and the potential of the league’s next crop of media rights deals.
IEG estimates that the NBA made a record $1.46 billion in sponsorship revenue last season and will likely top that during the 2021-22 season, which tips off Tuesday.
The NBA is targeting $75 billion over nine years for its next set of broadcast deals, a significant jump from its current $24 billion in deals with Disney and WarnerMedia. Those agreements expire in 2025.
The Chicago Bulls ($3.65 billion) and the Boston Celtics ($3.55 billion) rounded out the top five on Forbes’ list.
