The defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors were valued at $7.56 billion by a sports business publication to edge the New York Knicks as the NBA’s most valuable franchise.
The valuation puts the Warriors just behind the Dallas Cowboys as the second-most valuable team in North American professional sports.
The Warriors’ value grew by 25 percent on-year, with their gross income, which included profits from non-NBA events, pegged at around $750 million after revenue sharing.
The Bay Area-based franchise also topped numerous revenue categories, including sponsorship at $150 million and premium seating, which accounted for $250 million on the balance sheet.
Meanwhile, the Knicks saw their valuation grow by eight percent on year to US$6.58 billion.
The third-place Los Angeles Lakers were valued at $6.44 billion, which is up 14 percent from the previous year.
According to Sportico, the franchise that saw the biggest one-year change in value was the Phoenix Suns, up 56 percent t0 $3 billion.
The New Orleans Pelicans remained at the bottom of the rankings, with a value of US$1.63 billion.
