[Sportico] The most valuable franchises in the NBA: Golden State Warriors (\(14.5B), New York Knicks (\)12.8B), Los Angeles Lakers (\(12.5B), Los Angeles Clippers (\)8.21B), and Chicago Bulls ($8.13B).
The NBA “get-in” price has soared in recent years as teams at the bottom of the financial table traded hands at ever-escalating levels, and the value of the NBA’s 30th-ranked team tripled between 2020 and 2025, outpacing growth at the top. With the league’s mega TV deal and the growth prospects domestically and internationally, the business of the league is starting to mirror that of the NFL—and investors are clamoring to secure a part of it.
This year, the league’s heavyweights roared back.The pending sale of the Los Angeles Lakers and robust expansion process in Las Vegas re-iterated that markets matter. The top half of NBA clubs increased 26% on average, while the bottom four teams ticked up just 5% on average.
The Golden State Warriors lead the way in Sportico‘s NBA valuations for the fifth straight year at \(14.5 billion—only the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys (\)15.5 billion) rank higher among the most valuable global sports franchises. The New York Knicks (\(12.8 billion) passed the Lakers (\)12.5 billion) in second, while the Los Angeles Clippers (\(8.21 billion) and Chicago Bulls (\)8.13 billion) round out the top five.
The average team is worth \(6.64 billion, according to Sportico’scalculations, up 21% versus last year and 183% from 2020, when the average was \)2.35 billion. Here is the complete ranking of all 30 NBA teams’ valuations.Our enterprise valuation estimates measure a control sale price, instead of a limited partnership transaction. Collectively, the NBA’s 30 teams are worth $199 billion, including real estate held by owners and team-related businesses, such as WNBA franchises, for which 10 current or future teams share ownership.
Golden State Warriors ($14.5B)
New York Knicks ($12.8B)
Los Angeles Lakers ($12.5B)
LA Clippers ($8.21B)
Chicago Bulls ($8.13B)
Miami Heat ($8.05B)
Boston Celtics ($8B)
Brooklyn Nets ($7.45B)
Philadelphia 76ers ($7.15B)
Houston Rockets ($6.92B)
Toronto Raptors ($6.47B)
Dallas Mavericks ($6.35B)
Phoenix Suns ($6.32B)
Atlanta Hawks ($6.08B)
Sacramento Kings ($5.71B)
Washington Wizards ($5.56B)
Denver Nuggets ($5.51B)
San Antonio Spurs ($5.3B)
Indiana Pacers ($5.26B)
Milwaukee Bucks ($5.14B)
Oklahoma City Thunder ($5B)
Utah Jazz ($4.92B)
Orlando Magic ($4.9B)
Cleveland Cavaliers ($4.86B)
Charlotte Hornets ($4.85B)
Detroit Pistons ($4.83B)
Minnesota Timberwolves ($4.5B)
Portland Trail Blazers ($4.4B)
New Orleans Pelicans ($4.25B)
Memphis Grizzlies ($4.2B)