The NBA is now worth $199 billion: here's how the ranking of the 30 franchises stands
The Golden State Warriors top the rankings with a valuation of $14.5 billion, while the New York Knicks surpass the Los Angeles Lakers to take second place.
The combined value of the 30 franchises of the NBA reaches $199 billion in 2026, according to valuations published by Sportico. The figure reflects the economic growth of the competition, with the average team now valued at $6.64 billion, a 21% increase from the previous year. The Golden State Warriors top the rankings with a valuation of $14.5 billion, while the New York Knicks surpass the Los Angeles Lakers to take the second position.
The evolution over the past few years confirms the magnitude of this revaluation. Since 2020, when the average value of a franchise was $2.35 billion, the figure has increased by 183%. Moreover, the growth is not limited to organizations in the top positions: all 30 franchises have increased their valuations, although there are significant differences between the teams that have progressed the most and those whose growth has been more moderate.
Golden State Warriors, the most valuable franchise in the NBA
The Golden State Warriors remain at the top with a valuation of $14.5 billion, having recorded a 28% increase over the past year. Their figure is only surpassed by the $15.5 billion attributed to the NFL's Dallas Cowboys among sports franchises worldwide.
The economic power of Golden State is also reflected in its revenues. The organization generated $895 million during the last season, excluding the league's revenue sharing, which is 26% more than the New York Knicks. Additionally, it has an agreement with Iren to include advertising on jerseys, valued at over $50 million annually. According to the published data, this is the most lucrative jersey sponsorship in the history of team sports in North America.
The Knicks occupy the second spot with $12.8 billion, after increasing their valuation by 30% compared to the previous year. Thus, they surpass the Los Angeles Lakers, who fall to third place with $12.5 billion. The Lakers' valuation is situated amidst the pending sale of the franchise to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger.
The Los Angeles Clippers and Chicago Bulls complete the top five. The Clippers reach $8.21 billion, while Chicago arrives at $8.13 billion, after experiencing an annual growth of 22% and 33%, respectively. The Miami Heat, with $8.05 billion, and the Boston Celtics, with $8 billion, also exceed that threshold.
The complete ranking of the 30 franchises in 2026
The Sportico report places all 30 NBA organizations above $4 billion. The Memphis Grizzlies close the rankings with $4.2 billion, behind the New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trail Blazers, and Minnesota Timberwolves.
| Position | Franchise | Valuation in 2026 | Annual Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Golden State Warriors | $14.5 billion | +28% |
| 2 | New York Knicks | $12.8 billion | +30% |
| 3 | Los Angeles Lakers | $12.5 billion | +25% |
| 4 | Los Angeles Clippers | $8.21 billion | +22% |
| 5 | Chicago Bulls | $8.13 billion | +33% |
| 6 | Miami Heat | $8.05 billion | +33% |
| 7 | Boston Celtics | $8 billion | +26% |
| 8 | Brooklyn Nets | $7.45 billion | +20% |
| 9 | Philadelphia 76ers | $7.15 billion | +27% |
| 10 | Houston Rockets | $6.92 billion | +25% |
| 11 | Toronto Raptors | $6.47 billion | +24% |
| 12 | Dallas Mavericks | $6.35 billion | +21% |
| 13 | Phoenix Suns | $6.32 billion | +24% |
| 14 | Atlanta Hawks | $6.08 billion | +21% |
| 15 | Cleveland Cavaliers | $6 billion | +23% |
| 16 | Sacramento Kings | $5.71 billion | +14% |
| 17 | Washington Wizards | $5.56 billion | +16% |
| 18 | Denver Nuggets | $5.51 billion | +15% |
| 19 | San Antonio Spurs | $5.3 billion | +18% |
| 20 | Indiana Pacers | $5.26 billion | +11% |
| 21 | Milwaukee Bucks | $5.14 billion | +13% |
| 22 | Oklahoma City Thunder | $5 billion | +15% |
| 23 | Utah Jazz | $4.92 billion | +15% |
| 24 | Orlando Magic | $4.9 billion | +16% |
| 25 | Charlotte Hornets | $4.85 billion | +17% |
| 26 | Detroit Pistons | $4.83 billion | +16% |
| 27 | Minnesota Timberwolves | $4.5 billion | +6% |
| 28 | Portland Trail Blazers | $4.4 billion | +4% |
| 29 | New Orleans Pelicans | $4.25 billion | +6% |
| 30 | Memphis Grizzlies | $4.2 billion | +5% |
NBA revenues grow with the new television deal
The increase in valuations coincides with the growth in overall revenues for the competition. The NBA generated an estimated $13.7 billion during the last season, 12% more than in the previous fiscal year. In this context, the new national broadcasting rights agreement came into effect, valued at $76 billion over 11 years.
Each franchise received approximately $180 million from the league's revenue sharing. However, the economic impact is not uniform: the value of teams situated in the top half of the ranking increased by an average of 26%, while the four franchises at the bottom recorded a combined average growth of 5%.
The average valuation of an NBA team currently equals 14.6 times its revenues, the highest multiple among the major North American sports leagues. This indicator reflects the economic dimension that franchises have reached and the significance of their future revenue prospects.
Las Vegas and Seattle, awaiting possible expansion
The upcoming decision on a possible expansion could influence franchise valuations. The NBA expects to decide before the year ends on the possibility of adding teams in Las Vegas and Seattle.
For now, the 30 existing organizations total $199 billion and present an average valuation of $6.64 billion. Golden State leads the ranking, the Knicks climb to second place, and the Lakers are third. At the opposite end, Memphis occupies the last position, although its valuation has also increased compared to the previous year.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La NBA ya vale 199.000 millones de dólares: así queda el ranking de las 30 franquicias
