In a Forbes report Tuesday, research showed that NBA franchise values are up 14 percent from last season, with an average team coming in at being worth $2.12 billion -- back in 2011, not one team was worth $1 billion.
And somewhat surprisingly -- but then again, not so surprisingly -- at the top of this list are the New York Knicks, who have been valued at $4.6 billion, just one of three teams (the Los Angeles Lakers ($4.4 billion) and Golden State Warriors ($4.3 billion)) to be worth over $4 billion.
Despite seven consecutive losing seasons and no single superstar on their roster, the Knicks still remain at the top of the list almost entirely because of New York City and Madison Square Garden. In the last year, the Knicks value has risen by 15 percent.
The combination of where they play and the surge of the NBA as a whole has the Knicks raking in money.
The Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers both came in the Top 7 -- both were sold for over 10x revenue in the last six years. As a collective, all 30 teams combined to generate $8.8 billion last season, up 10 percent from the year before.
Despite some trying times for the NBA this season with TV ratings being down and the China ordeal with Rockets GM Daryl Morey over the summer, the league continues to see its team flourish on the business side of things.
Here's the Top 10 Valued NBA Teams
1. New York Knicks ($4.6 billion)
2. Los Angeles Lakers ($4.4 billion)
3. Golden State Warriors ($4.3 billion)
4. Chicago Bulls ($3.2 billion)
5. Boston Celtics ($3.1 billion)
6. Los Angeles Clippers ($2.6 billion)
7. Brooklyn Nets ($2.5 billion)
8. Houston Rockets ($2.475 billion)
9. Dallas Mavericks ($2.4 billion)
10. Toronto Raptors ($2.1 billion)
