Even without going to the playoffs, the Warriors remain winners in one area, that of finances. Golden State dominates for the third year in a row the ranking of the most valued franchises by the specialized magazine Forbes. The club of Joe Lacob and Peter Guber is today estimated at 8.8 billion dollars (8.15 billion euros), ahead of the Knicks and the Lakers, estimated at 7.5 and 7.1 billion dollars ( 6.95 and 6.58 billion euros).
Forbes notes the flourishing health of the NBA and its teams, whose average value now reaches 4.4 billion dollars (4.08 billion euros), a figure up 15% compared to 2023.
The biggest of these increases is for the Celtics, fourth in the ranking at 6 billion dollars, an annual increase of 28%, at the end of a season synonymous with 18e title in Boston history.
Enough to give an idea of the future sale of the franchise, the process of which was initiated by the Grousbeck family and should accelerate in the coming months. Forbes envisages first offers around five billion dollars, the fault in particular of the Grousbecks' desire to remain at the head of the Celtics until 2028 despite the sale of a large sum of their shares.
The numbers will explode again
After having exploded by 63% in 2023 following in particular the enthusiasm around Victor Wembanyama's Draft, the Spurs this time take 18% and are getting closer to 4 billion dollars, barely more than a year after having exceeded for the the three billion mark for the first time.
These astronomical figures – only five other sports franchises reach the seven billion dollar valuation – are only expected to grow. The NBA has exploded the value of the TV broadcast contract with ABC/ESPN, NBC and Amazon Prime Video, which will increase all financial results. Other contracts, such as the one renegotiated with Nike as equipment supplier, will also cause these figures to soar.
For other franchises, investments in theaters also allow profits to grow. With their Intuit Dome, the Clippers are ensuring a substantial increase in their financial impact in match revenues, but also in sponsorship. Forbes estimates that the contract signed with Intuit brings the Los Angeles franchise $21.7 million per year (for a total of $500 million over 23 years), or more than seven million more than any other deal. of “naming” in the NBA. The Wizards, the Sixers and the Thunder also have in their plan the construction of new rooms in future years.
Franchise valuation
- Golden State Warriors: $8.8 billion, +14%
- New York Knicks: $7.5 billion, +14%
- Los Angeles Lakers: $7.1 billion, +11%
- Boston Celtics: $6 billion, +28%
- Los Angeles Clippers: $5.5 billion, +18%
- Chicago Bulls: $5 billion, +9%
- Houston Rockets: $4.9 billion, +11%
- Brooklyn Nets: $4.8 billion, +25%
- Dallas Mavericks: $4.7 billion, +4%
- Philadelphia 76ers: $4.6 billion, +7%
- Toronto Raptors: $4.4 billion, +7%
- Phoenix Suns: 4.3 billion, +8%
- Miami Heat: $4.25 billion, +9%
- Washington Wizards: $4.1 billion, +17%
- Milwaukee Bucks: $4 billion, +25%
- Cleveland Cavaliers: $3.95 billion, +18%
- Denver Nuggets: $3.9 billion, +16%
- San Antonio Spurs: $3.85 billion, +18%
- Atlanta Hawks: $3.8 billion, +14%
- Sacramento Kings: $3.7 billion, +11%
- Oklahoma City Thunder: $3.65 billion, +20%
- Indiana Pacers: $3.6 billion, +24%
- Utah Jazz: $3.55 billion, +15%
- Portland Trail Blazers: $3.5 billion, +14%
- Detroit Pistons: $3.4 billion, +11%
- Charlotte Hornets: $3.3 billion, +10%
- Orlando Magic: $3.2 billion, +8%
- Minnesota Timberwolves: $3.1 billion, +24%
- New Orleans Pelicans: $3.05 billion, +20%
- Memphis Grizzlies: $3 billion, +25%
