Neither the Lakers nor the Warriors: This is the NBA franchise that has increased its value the most in 2024

As the year draws to a close, it’s time to take stock and assess the numbers. For the NBA, the results are impressive. Once again, the North American basketball league has seen significant growth in its overall value, along with that of its franchises. This trend is nothing new; over the past four years, team valuations have increased by an average of 50%—a remarkable feat for any industry, sports or otherwise.

This growth has pushed the average value of an NBA franchise to $4.6 billion. Leading the pack are the Golden State Warriors, who have become the first NBA team valued at over $9 billion ($9.14 billion), following a 10% increase this year.

Close behind are the New York Knicks ($8.3 billion) and the Los Angeles Lakers ($8.07 billion), both of which previously dominated the top spots before the Warriors' meteoric rise.

Nets grow 43% in a year

However, the most surprising development in Sportico’s 2024 rankings is the Brooklyn Nets securing fourth place. Under coach Jordi Fernández, the Nets experienced a staggering 43% increase in value, the largest gain among all NBA teams this year.

This surge propelled them nine spots up the list, putting them just shy of the top three. To put this growth into perspective, the league’s 30 teams saw an average value increase of 15.6% in 2024.

With a current valuation of $5.7 billion, the Nets have joined a select group of franchises valued at over $5 billion, trailing the Warriors, Knicks, and Lakers. This group also includes the Los Angeles Clippers (5th), Boston Celtics (6th), Chicago Bulls (7th), and Miami Heat (8th). The Clippers recorded the second-highest growth in 2024, with a 25% increase in value. Other teams with notable growth exceeding 20% include the Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Milwaukee Bucks.

Which NBA team has the lowest value?

On the opposite end, the Phoenix Suns (8%) and Memphis Grizzlies (9%) saw the smallest increases in value this year. The Grizzlies remain the league’s least valuable team at $3.06 billion.

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