The NBA season begins Tuesday, and commissioner Adam Silver estimates the league will record $10 billion in revenue following two shortened seasons with limited fan attendance.
Media rights make up roughly $2.6 billion of the league’s annual revenue, and sponsorships brought in a record $1.46 billion last season.
Despite those impressive hauls, the NBA has still taken a hit financially the last two years.
- Revenue dropped from $8.8 billion in 2018-19 to $8.3 billion during the 2019-20 season.
- Numbers for the 2020-21 season have yet to be announced, but Silver said that revenue was down about 35% last season.
The NBA’s next media rights deal will start in 2025 and could be worth more than $75 billion across nine years — more than $8 billion annually.
Tuesday marks the start of the league’s 75th season, and the return of an 82-game format, with the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks set to play the Brooklyn Nets on TNT.
The league had its most-watched opening week since 2012 last year and averaged 2.9 million viewers during its opening night doubleheader. It was the most-watched opening night since 2017.
![The University of Alabama showed off renovations to Bryant Denny Stadium Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020. Sports Illustrated covers decorate the walls inside the new press box. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]](https://frontofficesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/USATSI_15005835_168422351_lowres-scaled-e1779297429645.jpg?quality=80&w=300)
