From New York to LA and Boston to the Bay, find out who wins top financial honors as the NBA’s top-valued franchise.
No investment is truly a sure thing. Foolproof. Set-it-and-forget-it. That’s just how it works. Buying into a franchise that plies its trade in the National Basketball Association, however, might just be the closest thing.
Even the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic couldn’t slow the NBA’s roll. Earlier this year, Mat Ishbia purchased the Phoenix Suns for $4 billion. Firms like RedBird and Arctos have keyed a private equity-feeding frenzy around the league to the point that even the big, bad NFL might just relent and play copycat.
So, that got us thinking: Who stands alone atop the mountain of NBA team valuations? This penthouse only has room for one, so are we talking LA? New York?
Well, thanks to a new Forbes report led by Mike Ozanian and Justin Teitelbaum, we have a new, gaudy snapshot of just how powerfully pro hoops franchises have evolved as investment assets — and who’s the biggest winner of all.
Check out the latest list of the most valuable NBA teams below.
Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.
Most Valuable NBA Teams: The Top 10 of 2023
Numbers via Forbes’ Most Valuable NBA Teams report published Oct. 26, 2023. “YoY %” refers to a team valuation’s growth compared to Forbes’ 2022 report.
| TEAM | VALUATION | YoY % |
| 1. Golden State Warriors | $7.7B | +10% |
| 2. New York Knicks | $6.6B | +8% |
| 3. Los Angeles Lakers | $6.4B | +8% |
| 4. Boston Celtics | $4.7B | +18% |
| 5. Los Angeles Clippers | $4.65B | +19% |
| 6. Chicago Bulls | $4.6B | +12% |
| 7. Dallas Mavericks | $4.5B | +36% |
| 8. Houston Rockets | $4.4B | +38% |
| 9. Philadelphia 76ers | $4.3B | +37% |
| 10. Toronto Raptors | $4.1B | +32% |
Most Valuable NBA Franchises: 11-20
| 11. Phoenix Suns | $4B | +48% |
| 12. Miami Heat | $3.9B | +30% |
| 13. Brooklyn Nets | $3.85B | +10% |
| 14. Washington Wizards | $3.5B | +40% |
| 15. Denver Nuggets | $3.37B | +75% |
| 16. Cleveland Cavaliers | $3.35B | +63% |
| 17. Sacramento Kings | $3.33B | +64% |
| 18. Atlanta Hawks | $3.32B | +68% |
| 19. San Antonio Spurs | $3.25B | +63% |
| 20. Milwaukee Bucks | $3.2B | +39% |
Most Valuable NBA Teams: 21-30
| 21. Utah Jazz | $3.09B | +53% |
| 22. Portland Trail Blazers | $3.08B | +47% |
| 23. Detroit Pistons | $3.07B | +62% |
| 24. Oklahoma City Thunder | $3.05B | +63% |
| 25. Charlotte Hornets | $3B | +76% |
| 26. Orlando Magic | $2.95B | +59% |
| 27. Indiana Pacers | $2.9B | +61% |
| 28. New Orleans Pelicans | $2.55B | +59% |
| 29. Minnesota Timberwolves | $2.5B | +50% |
| 30. Memphis Grizzlies | $2.4B | +45% |
Additional NBA Team Valuation Facts
- The average NBA team is now worth just over $3.8 billion.
- The NBA expects to generate approximately $13 billion in revenue in 2023-24.
- Over 50% of NBA revenues in 2022-23 came from media deals.
- The Charlotte Hornets’ valuation experienced the largest year-over-year increase in the league — 76%. A group led by Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin purchased a controlling stake team from Michael Jordan in August.
Read More:
Belichick, Pop, & the Highest Paid Coaches in U.S. Sports
Breaking down the 10 highest paid coaches in U.S. sports, led by championship winners Bill Belichick, Sean Payton, and Gregg Popovich….
The NFL’s Most-watched Thanksgiving Games
Boardroom breaks down the most-watched Thanksgiving Day NFL games over the last 30 years. Spoiler: The Dallas Cowboys are on this list a lot. The Detroit Lions have played on Thanksgiving every year since…
A biweekly email from industry authority Nick DePaula packed with exclusive sneaker news and access to the athletes, designers, and executives that move the business.
