For the sixth year in a row, Warriors tops the list of the most valuable NBA teams according to Sportico Sportico’s Kurt Badenhausenwho on Friday provided updated NBA franchise estimates for 2026.
Badenhausen projects the Warriors to be worth $14.5 billion, up 28% from last year’s estimate of $11.33 billion. The NFL’s $15.5 billion Dallas Cowboys remain the only global sports franchise with a higher valuation than Golden State, according to Sportico’s projections.
According to Sportico, the average value of an NBA franchise is $6.64 billion, a 21% increase from 2025, with no team worth less than $4.2 billion. The average valuation has nearly tripled since 2020, when it was $2.35 billion, and the combined value of the NBA’s 30 teams is $199 billion. That estimate takes into account business related to teams, including WNBA franchises, as well as arenas owned by NBA teams, Badenhausen said.
Last season, the NBA’s 30 teams generated a total of $13.7 billion in Badenhausen revenue, which is roughly $456 million per club. That total includes non-NBA events that took place in team-owned and/or operated buildings.
As Badenhausen points out, the Warriors led the NBA in revenue by a wide margin, earning an estimated $895 million last season. This indicator is 26% higher than in Nix“estimated revenue despite Golden State missing the playoffs while New York played nine postseason home games en route to the championship.
After finishing third a year ago, the Knicks are back in second place on Sportico’s 2026 list at $12.8 billion. They move a little ahead Lakerswhich is valued at $12.5 billion, which is based on a price that Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner recently agreed to pay for a larger share in the team.
Of course, it should be noted that the figures from Sportico or any other media outlet are only estimates and often do not exactly match the sale prices of franchises that change hands. But these projections are generally in the right ballpark and remain useful for getting an idea of the league’s most and least valuable teams.
As Badenhausen points out, Sportico’s forecasts are based on a control sale price, not limited share purchases.
here Complete list of Sportico NBA Franchise Estimates for 2026:
- Golden State Warriors: $14.5 billion
- New York Knicks: $12.8 billion
- Los Angeles Lakers: $12.5 billion
- Los Angeles Clippers: $8.21 billion
- Chicago Bulls: $8.13 billion
- Miami Heat: $8.05 billion
- Boston Celtics: $8 billion
- Brooklyn Nets: $7.45 billion
- Philadelphia 76ers: $7.15 billion
- Houston Rockets: $6.92 billion
- Toronto Raptors: $6.47 billion
- Dallas Mavericks: $6.35 billion
- Phoenix Suns: $6.32 billion
- Atlanta Hawks: $6.08 billion
- Cleveland Cavaliers: $6 billion
- Sacramento Kings: $5.71 billion
- Washington Wizards: $5.56 billion
- Denver Nuggets: $5.51 billion
- San Antonio Spurs: $5.3 billion
- Indiana Pacers: $5.26 billion
- Milwaukee Bucks: $5.14 billion
- Oklahoma City Thunder: $5 billion
- Utah Jazz: $4.92 billion
- Orlando Magic: $4.9 billion
- Charlotte Hornets: $4.85 billion
- Detroit Pistons: $4.83 billion
- Minnesota Timberwolves: $4.5 billion
- Portland Trail Blazers: $4.4 billion
- New Orleans Pelicans: $4.25 billion
- Memphis Grizzlies: $4.2 billion