The most valuable franchises in the NBA as the new season tips off

NBA fans have looked forward to their favorite players getting back on the court for months, but sports business enthusiasts have been counting down the days until NBA franchise valuations were released. Forbes has come out with the fresh list as the 2024-2025 season is underway, and we’ll take a closer look at the 10 highest valued franchises in the NBA.

After bottoming out in the mid 2010s, the 76ers have been relevant as a playoff team for the better part of a half-decade. Philadelphia has continued to replenish their stock of stars alongside Joel Embiid, whether it’s been with Ben Simmons, James Harden, Jimmy Butler or most recently, Paul George. This continued relevance, coupled with the historic significance of their franchise, should keep them in the top 10 for years to come.

There’s been some chatter about where the 76ers will play their home games in future seasons. CBS News reported that the franchise acknowledged the possibility that they could move to New Jersey. However, Forbes notes that their preference is to stay in Philadelphia, with a new downtown arena.

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Since Mark Cuban bought the Mavericks in 2000, he has spared no expense in order to bring state-of-the-art facilities for the team. His investment has paid off, as Dallas has become one of the more well-respected franchises in the NBA, something it was not prior to the turn of the century. Cuban still remains part owner, but sold his majority stake to the Adelson family in 2023.

While Cuban has done a tremendous job building up the organization, Dallas has been fortunate to have two generational stars since he bought the team. The Dirk Nowitzki era brought Mavericks fans a championship in 2011, and a fun brand of basketball. Dallas fans now get to watch Luka Doncic put his stamp on NBA history.

It might be hard for some to believe, but the 2024-2025 campaign marks the 13^th season that the Nets will call Brooklyn home. On the court, it’s been a bit of a roller coaster ride, as Brooklyn has made big swings for megastars that haven’t really panned out. They’re still looking for that one blue-chip prospect who can lead the team into their next successful chapter.

In 2012, Bleacher Report wrote a piece explaining why the Nets would always play second fiddle to the Knicks in New York. While they might not take over the city anytime soon, Brooklyn still has a chance to carve out its own section of fans if they’re able to bring a young generational star to the team.

It was thought that the Rockets’ value might take a hit after 2019, when a controversy involving then-general manager Daryl Morey prompted the team to pull its merchandise sales in China. While the incident wasn’t great for the bottom line, the franchise has continued to grow in value over the years.

Yahoo Sports noted in October 2023 that the Rockets’ value has more than doubled since owner Tilman Fertitta bought the club in October 2017 for $2.2 billion. While this trend can be called out for most NBA franchises, it’s notable that Houston’s valuation has continued to skyrocket even though a couple of rebuilding years in the 2020s.

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The Bulls are owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, who has been a mainstay in the Chicago sports scene since the 1980s. CBS Sports and others have noted that Reinsdorf may be willing to sell his interest in the MLB’s Chicago White Sox, but it seems clear that the Bulls remain near and dear to his heart.

Even though he hasn’t played for the team since 1998, Michael Jordan and his gargantuan presence continue to loom large for the Bulls. While younger fans might not flock to buy Jordan jerseys anymore, his name still reverberates prominently in the basketball world, giving Chicago an automatic advantage when it comes to branding.

The Clippers franchise has been completely different since Steve Ballmer bought the team in 2014. Los Angeles was mired in the Donald Sterling fiasco, and badly needed a new, positive direction. Ballmer has brought energy and hope in droves, as the New York Times delved into in June 2024.

Perhaps Ballmer’s crowning achievement has been realized in the form of the Intuit Dome, the new home arena for the Clippers. Forbes notes that the Intuit Dome features a halo board that hovers over the court that is six times larger than any other big screen in NBA arenas. Ballmer is also betting on automated in-arena experiences that will get fans to their seats faster.

Boston is once again atop the NBA world, as the franchise won their league-leading 18^th title in June 2024. The Celtics are synonymous with basketball history, and could make a push for a higher spot in future years given their setup for success. Their championship core will remain intact for the foreseeable future.

With that said, there’s a bit of uncertainty in Boston right now with regard to their ownership. NBC Sports Boston reported in October 2024 that the current ownership group would start to accept bids for the team in the near future. It’s anyone’s guess as to how this will unfold, or who might emerge as an interested party.

The Celtics and Lakers are often discussed in tandem throughout the course of NBA history, and once again find themselves side by side on this list. According to the NBA’s website, Los Angeles led the league in merchandise sales a year ago, which is no surprise considering they have a plethora of current and retro jerseys that basketball fans love to own.

Throughout the course of their history, the Lakers have found a way to stay in the news, even if their potential on the court wasn’t up to championship levels. The Lakers are one of the most discussed teams in all sports, as their every move and performance is analyzed with a fine-tooth comb.

For most of the century, the Knicks have been a laughingstock of a franchise. New York had wallowed in the bottom of the standings despite their big market cachet. Things have turned around in a significant way for the Knicks, who appear to be knocking on the door of a potential NBA Finals run.

Forbes noted that the Knicks announced a patch partnership with Experience Abu Dhabi. While it hasn’t been uncommon for teams to look globally for patch sponsorships, the clear willingness to promote travel experiences to the United Arab Emirates shows that the team is willing to turn over every leaf to find lucrative business opportunities.

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Forbes broke down its valuation formula into four main components: sport, market, stadium and brand. While the San Francisco market is a notable part of the Warriors’ valuation, its brand estimation also figures heavily into its league-leading price tag. This is driven by the popularity of Stephen Curry.

Curry might be entering the twilight years of his career, but he’s as famous as he’s ever been. His indelible Olympic performance reminded fans just how brilliant of a player he is. Even during a down season for the team in 2023-2024, Curry’s jersey was the highest-sold in the league, according to the NBA’s website.