It’s good to be James Dolan.
The Knicks have not been the winningest or best-run franchise in the NBA for decades (and that’s putting it kindly), but because it’s New York and the team has a passionate and loyal fan base, Dolan’s Knicks top Forbes Magazine’s list of most valuable NBA franchises. At a staggering $4 billion. And that could be low because Dolan has said he’s been offered $5 billion for the team.
The Lakers at $3.7 billion, and the Warriors at $3.5 billion — and about to move into a brand new building in San Francisco — are the next two on the list.
Here is your Top 10:
1. New York Knicks, $4 Billion
2. Los Angeles Lakers, $3.7 Billion
3. Golden State Warriors, $3.5 Billion
4. Chicago Bulls, $2.9 Billion
5. Boston Celtics, $2.8 Billion
6. Brooklyn Nets, $2.3 Billion
7. Houston Rockets, $2.2 Billion
8. Los Angeles Clippers, $2.15 Billion
9. Dallas Mavericks, $1.9 Billion
10. Miami Heat, $1.7 Billion
Here are some other notes:
• Owners and the league office will be quick to tell you these valuations are not all that accurate. Which may be true when it comes time to sell a team and there are bidders, but it’s the best estimates we have on what franchises are worth. The League also likes to dispute how profitable teams are (something that always seems to get pushed when it’s time to renegotiate the Collective Bargaining Agreement).
• The average NBA team is worth $1.9 billion.
• Team values went up an average of 13% year-over-year and have tripled in the past five years.
• The New Orleans Pelicans, at $1.2billion are the least valuable team on the list. Charlotte, at $1.25 billion, is just ahead of them.
• The Utah Jazz lead the league in revenue generated per fan, according to Forbes.
