The New York Knicks just had an absolutely wild year, didn’t they? After clinching the 2026 NBA title, their valuation absolutely exploded, leaping past the Los Angeles Lakers in Sportico’s annual ranking of the league’s most valuable franchises. We’re talking a 30 percent jump over the last year, pushing the Knicks’ valuation to an eye-watering $12.8 billion. That’s some serious cash, making them the second most valuable NBA team out there.
The Billionaire’s Club Just Got a New Pecker Order
Sitting at the absolute top of the NBA’s money mountain are the Golden State Warriors with an insane $14.5 billion valuation. But right behind them are our reigning champs, the Knicks at $12.8 billion, having officially passed the Lakers, who clock in at $12.5 billion. Think about that for a second: these three franchises are the *only* NBA teams with valuations in the 11-digit range. That’s a club reserved for the absolute elite of the elite, and it shows you where the real power is in this league. And get this, a pending sale for the Lakers at that valuation could even set an NBA record.
It’s not just NBA money we’re talking about either. Globally, only the Dallas Cowboys, valued at $15.5 billion, are considered a more valuable sports franchise than the Warriors. Sportico’s valuations aren’t just about what the team pulls in on game day either. They’re based on team revenue, sure, but also other income streams tied to the franchise, like owning a WNBA team or the arena itself. It’s the whole ecosystem.
Big Money Moves and the Teams Still Chasing It
While the top dogs are raking it in, we’ve also seen some other teams make serious moves. The Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat are tied for the biggest one-year value increase in the NBA, both skyrocketing by a whopping 33 percent. That’s massive! These two clubs are now projected to be worth over $8 billion each, slotting them into the top six NBA teams overall.
Then you’ve got the Philadelphia 76ers, who came in ninth after a 27 percent year-by-year value bump brought their franchise to $7.15 billion. And with them signing LeBron James this offseason, you’ve gotta think they’re hoping for an even bigger spike next time around. On average, NBA clubs in the top half of the rankings saw their valuations increase by 26 percent over the last year.
But not everyone’s swimming in that kind of dough. Four teams,the Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Memphis Grizzlies,were valued at $4.5 billion or less. And to really rub salt in the wound, these bottom-four franchises each saw their valuations increase by a measly six percent or less over the past year. That’s a tough pill to swallow when others are seeing double and triple-digit percentage gains.
The Storm Clouds on the Horizon for League Finances
Now, here’s a wrinkle that could impact everyone. Sportico’s Kurt Badenhausen pointed out that “revenue for the 2026-27 NBA season might be choppy.” Why? Because the company that ran local broadcasts, FanDuel Sports Network, has ceased operations. That’s a huge hit for teams that relied on those local media rights deals.
Teams impacted by these media rights changes might have to lean heavily on the NBA’s revenue-sharing rules. That means the big-money clubs and luxury tax proceeds will be distributed to the league’s less lucrative teams. It’s a system designed to keep things balanced, but it shows you that even in a league with skyrocketing valuations, there are still some serious financial headwinds brewing. This off-season, and frankly, this entire next year, is going to be all about how the NBA navigates this new financial landscape. It’s never dull, is it?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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