NBA Team Valuations 2025: Golden State Warriors Lead the Pack as League Values Soar

The NBA’s financial surge continues in 2025, with franchise valuations reaching record highs. According to CNBC’s latest report, the average NBA team is now worth $4.66 billion, placing the league firmly between the NFL, where the average team is valued at $6.49 billion, and the NHL, where teams stand at an average of $1.92 billion. This upward trajectory reflects the NBA’s growing global appeal, lucrative media rights deals, and increasing sponsorship revenues.

Golden State Warriors: The Most Valuable Franchise

Leading the way in valuations is the Golden State Warriors, boasting an impressive $9.4 billion valuation. This makes them not only the most valuable team in the NBA but also one of the most successful franchises in sports business. The Warriors’ financial strength is largely driven by strong revenue streams, including massive sponsorship deals and the high profitability of the Chase Center, their privately owned arena. The Chase Center has become a crucial asset, generating income from non-basketball events and enhancing the team’s overall revenue. In fact, the Warriors’ sponsorship earnings are now nearing $200 million, nearly double that of any other NBA team.

Since purchasing the franchise in 2010 for $450 million, owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber have overseen an extraordinary financial ascent, with the team’s value growing at a remarkable 24 percent compound annual rate. Their success is not just financial—on the court, the team’s dominance, led by superstar Stephen Curry, has helped shape the Warriors into a global brand. With four NBA championships over the past decade, the franchise has solidified its place as a dynasty, further driving its valuation.

Growth Across the Entire League

Even at the lower end of the spectrum, NBA franchises remain strong investments. The Memphis Grizzlies, the league’s least valuable team, are now worth $3.2 billion. Owner Robert Pera, who purchased the franchise in 2012 for $377 million, has benefited from an annualized growth rate of 19 percent, reflecting the NBA’s financial strength even in smaller markets.

Other major franchises continue to command impressive valuations. The New York Knicks, valued at $7.5 billion, and the Los Angeles Lakers, at $7 billion, rank just behind the Warriors. Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls ($5.8 billion) and Houston Rockets ($5.7 billion) maintain their positions among the league’s most valuable teams. The Brooklyn Nets ($5.6 billion) and Los Angeles Clippers ($5.4 billion), owned by billionaires Joe Tsai and Steve Ballmer respectively, further highlight the strong financial health of NBA franchises.

The Impact of a Game-Changing TV Rights Deal

One of the key factors driving these soaring valuations is the NBA’s recent media rights deal. Announced in July 2024, the league’s new $76 billion television contract is set to take effect in the 2025-26 season. Spanning 11 years, this agreement will bring in an estimated $6.9 billion annually, representing a massive 160 percent increase from the league’s previous contract.

Importantly, each of the NBA’s 30 teams will receive an equal share of this revenue, ensuring long-term financial stability across the league. This deal not only secures the NBA’s position among the world’s most lucrative sports organizations but also guarantees that valuations will continue to rise in the coming years.

The NBA’s Financial Future

With consistent year-over-year growth, the NBA has firmly established itself as a premier investment. Factors such as global media expansion, increasing sponsorship deals, and the rise of privately owned, revenue-generating arenas have transformed team ownership into a lucrative business.

As the league prepares to capitalize on its historic TV contract, valuations are expected to continue their upward trend. Whether it’s powerhouse teams like the Warriors or smaller market franchises like the Grizzlies, owning an NBA team has become one of the most profitable investments in all of professional sports. The NBA is no longer just a basketball league—it has evolved into a financial empire, proving once again how sports and business continue to converge at the highest level.