Joe Lacob and his crew didn’t just double their money on the Golden State Warriors. They didn’t even triple it. Less than two decades after buying the team for $450 million, Sportico just dropped a valuation that pegs the Warriors at a mind-blowing $14.5 billion, making them the NBA’s top-valued franchise and cranking their original investment up more than 32 times. That’s a 32-times return, in case you needed to read that again. Seriously, who saw that coming?
The Dynasty That Built Billions
So, how did a team go from less than half a billion to nearly fifteen billion in sixteen years? It’s not rocket science, but it sure is a masterclass in maximizing value. First up, you gotta have a star, and the Warriors hit the jackpot with Steph Curry, who’s still one of the most popular players on the planet and recently inked an extension. Combine that with a dynasty that’s still fresh in everyone’s minds, and you’ve got a recipe for supreme popularity and a fanbase that’s loyal through and through. It’s no wonder they led the entire NBA with nearly $900 million in revenue last season. That’s some serious cash flow.
Beyond The Court: Chase Center’s Money-Printing Machine
But wait, there’s more to this empire than just what happens on the hardwood. The ownership group pulled a genius move back in 2019, erecting the state-of-the-art Chase Center, and they funded it privately. This place isn’t just home to the Warriors either. Take the Golden State Valkyries, for example. Just two years into their existence, this other incredibly popular basketball team, also owned by Lacob’s group, is already topping Sportico’s WNBA valuations at a whopping $850 million. They’re a separate entity, sure, but they’re a money-printing tenant at the Chase Center, bringing in cash like nobody’s business.
And it’s not just basketball. By building a high-end arena smack dab in a trendy part of town, the Warriors essentially became landlords to the biggest entertainment acts around. We’re talking massive concerts. Just in the next few weeks, the Chase Center is slated to host Doja Cat, Phoebe Bridgers, the Jonas Brothers, and Journey, among others. That’s a whole lot of ticket sales and concession revenue flowing right back into the ownership group’s pockets.
The Looming Question: When Does The Bubble Burst?
It’s genuinely hard to see how the Warriors could possibly squeeze any more juice out of this valuation. They’ve utilized every single tool in the shed to max out their worth, and it shows. So, this brings us to the intriguing, and maybe a little scary, question: how much higher can they actually go? And for the NBA as a whole, when does this insane bubble burst?
Think back to 2014, when Steve Ballmer bought the LA Clippers for $2 billion. Everyone thought that price was absolutely outrageous at the time. Fast forward just twelve years to today, and guess what? The least valuable team in the NBA, the Memphis Grizzlies, is now valued at $4.2 billion. That’s more than double what the Clippers went for! This wild ride has been relentless, but it leaves us with one heck of a question for the entire league. Will this insane growth ever slow down, or are we witnessing the start of an even wilder ride for franchise values across the NBA?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Golden State of Mind.
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