On the latest Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams are joined by Kurt Badenhausen to discuss his latest NBA valuations. The Golden State Warriors are the league’s most valuable team at $9.14 billion, followed by the New York Knicks ($8.3 billion) and the Los Angeles Lakers ($8.07 billion). The Memphis Grizzlies are last at $3.06 billion.
They start by discussing the NBA compared to other major U.S. leagues. The NBA’s $4.6 billion average still pales in comparison to the NFL’s $5.93 billion average, but it is closing the gap. The new CBA and new TV deals will bolster the league’s business. One stat of note: While the NFL makes up 32 of the 45 most valuable teams in the U.S., it has just one in the top five. The NBA, by contrast, has three.
Next, they discuss the teams at the top. The Warriors lap the field thanks to a run of sustained on-court success and the money-printing Chase Center, which has reset the benchmark for ticket and sponsorship revenue in the NBA. Both the Knicks and Lakers have been marquee names for a while, with stable businesses that are less tied to playoff success.
The hosts also speak specifically about the Celtics, No. 6 on the list at $5.66 billion. The defending champions are in active sales talks, a unique process for a handful of reasons. Will the team sell for more than $6 billion? The hosts debate. They also talk about the uncommon aspects of the team’s business, including its looming luxury tax bills and its status as a tenant in its home arena.
They close by talking about a few teams toward the bottom of the list, including the Charlotte Hornets and the Portland Trail Blazers.
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