The last time I saw Rickey Henderson was late September in the Athletics’ clubhouse as the last, sad homestand at the Oakland Coliseum wound down to its final game. I’d known him since 1979 when he was brought up to the big leagues in his first run with the A’s. He was 20 at the …
Miami’s Larrañaga Leaves College Sports ‘Exhausted,’ Like Many Peers
Jim Larrañaga could handle—and repeatedly thrived—in the old college sports system, where athletes could only get paid under-the-table, even if that meant the Feds might subpoena his text messages. But the 75-year-old University of Miami head men’s basketball coach acknowledged this week that he didn’t have what it takes—at least not at this point in …
How the NBA Pulled Off Its ‘Jingle Hoops’ Christmas Ad
The third most-watched video on the NBA YouTube channel isn’t game footage or a dunk highlight reel. It’s a commercial. “Jingle Hoops” was a 30-second spot released in November 2013 promoting the NBA’s special Christmas edition uniforms and Dec. 25 game schedule. The video features five NBA stars shooting balls into baskets with tuned bells …
NASCAR Motion Denied as 23XI and Front Row Near Charter Status
In a move that shifts the gravity of the 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports antitrust case against NASCAR to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell on Monday denied NASCAR’s motion to stay—pending NASCAR’s appeal to the Fourth Circuit—the injunction Bell ordered last week. The injunction, which applies …
23XI Racing, Front Row Dispute NASCAR’s ‘Tired’ Case
23XI Racing, which is owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, and Front Row Motorsports filed a brief Monday morning urging U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell to deny NASCAR’s motion for a stay of a preliminary injunction. Unless stayed by Bell or vacated on appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth …
Cousins Benching Calls Attention to QB Succession Plan Pitfalls
For NFL teams, quarterback succession plans can be one of the toughest procedures to pull off smoothly. Just ask the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta surprised people around the league at the 2024 NFL Draft when it selected former Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick one month after signing veteran QB Kirk Cousins …
NFL’s Clash With College Football Playoff Is Rooted in 1961 Law
For the better part of the last 63 years, the NFL has steered clear of scheduling Saturday games while school is in session, only to watch in bemusement as college football’s expansionist impulses have undone a lifetime of studied avoidance. That two of the first-round CFP games are on a collision course with a pair …
Shedeur Sanders Brings QB Skills, Cultural Clout to NFL Draft
Las Vegas Raiders fan Ralph Sotelo went viral during the team’s Monday Night Football matchup when TV cameras panned his way while holding a sign that read: Tank for Shedeur. That clear message spread across social media as one of the few memorable moments during the Raiders 10th straight loss. Many members of Raider Nation …
NASCAR Argues New Judge’s Mistake Led to Michael Jordan Injunction
NASCAR made several legal moves Thursday in hopes of preventing Michael Jordan-owned 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports from gaining ground in their high-profile antitrust dispute. NASCAR filed an emergency motion for a partial stay of an injunction U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell issued Wednesday in favor of 23XI Racing and Front Row and requested he …
Boston Celtics Sale Document Casts Light on NBA Business Model
The Boston Celtics won their record 18th NBA title this year, one more than their longtime rival, the Los Angeles Lakers. Boston now has another record in its sights—the most expensive NBA team ever sold, and potentially the most expensive team across all sports. A document prepared for prospective buyers outlines what factors may go …
NBA Team Values 2024: Warriors, Knicks Lead as Average Hits $4.6B
The NFL flexed its financial muscles this month with several LP-stake sales at rich valuations, including more than $8 billion for both the Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles. The NFL checks two boxes that make it the envy of every other sports league: cost certainty for each team and a $400 million-plus annual check from …
Doc Rivers Wants Vegas Expansion—but NBA Cup Hasn’t Moved Needle
LAS VEGAS—The NBA Cup final is at T-Mobile Arena again Tuesday night with the Milwaukee Bucks playing the Oklahoma City Thunder in the tournament’s second edition. And despite Vegas once again putting its best foot forward as host—drawing an announced 35,050 for a split admission doubleheader on Saturday, up slightly from last year’s 34,854—the NBA …
NFL Ratings Growth Boosted by Streaming as Trad TV Numbers Slip
Despite all the mindshare-gobbling distractions of an election year and the ongoing erosion of TV usage, the NFL is on pace to put up its strongest ratings since 2015. And while the league’s stranglehold over our screens shows no sign of slackening, the season-long viewership boost may seem like a bit of a head-scratcher, as …
Whitecaps Owners Retain Goldman Sachs to Sell MLS Franchise
The Vancouver Whitecaps are for sale. The owners of the MLS team, a group that includes majority holder Greg Kerfoot, executive chair Jeff Mallett, Steve Luczo and former NBA star Steve Nash, said Friday they have retained Goldman Sachs to assist with the process. Sportico valued the club at $470 million back in January, which …
NBA Franchise Valuations Ranking List: From Warriors to Grizzlies
The average NBA team is worth $4.6 billion, according to data compiled by Sportico. The Golden State Warriors rank first at $9.14 billion, while the Memphis Grizzlies rank last at $3.06 billion. Below are the values of the league’s 30 franchises, which are collectively worth $138 billion.
To derive the market value of the 30 NBA franchises, Sportico calculated each team’s revenue relying on publicly available information and financial records—as well as interviews with those knowledgeable of team finances, including sports bankers and attorneys who actively work on NBA transactions. In the interest of accuracy, we traded candor for anonymity. This information was vetted by multiple owners, along with team or parent company CEOs, presidents, chief financial officers, media relations personnel, industry experts and investors. Below are definitions of some major metrics:
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Total Value: The sum of the market value of an NBA franchise combined with the value of team-related businesses and real estate holdings.
Team Value: NBA franchise valuation, derived from metrics by which basketball-team transactions occur, including aggregating local and national revenues and factoring in a team-specific multiplier. This represents the market value of the team itself, excluding related businesses held by its owners.
Team-Related Businesses and Real Estate Holdings: The value of a franchise or franchise owner’s equity in team-related businesses—that is, both those on the team’s balance sheet and held in distinct corporate entities—as well as government-assessed real estate related to venue, practice facilities and adjacent developments. Examples include: the Boston Celtics’ 20% interest in NBC Sports Boston, a regional sports network; and the Dallas Mavericks’ four subsidiaries, which own 11 parcels of land. Also included are WNBA franchises for the seven teams that share common ownership with an NBA club. For franchises that do not own their arenas, the value of a team’s lease—often with advantageous terms negotiated with municipal or state authorities—is captured in the Team Value category.
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