What is the most valuable team in the NBA?
Some may guess the Los Angeles Lakers or possibly the New York Knicks.
But for the first time in a long time, it’s neither of those two organizations.
According to Forbes magazine, the most valuable franchise in the NBA is now the Golden State Warriors, the defending world champs.
BREAKING: The Warriors are now the most valuable NBA franchise at $7B, according to Forbes.
The first time in 20+ years that the most valuable franchise isn’t the Knicks or Lakers… 🤯 pic.twitter.com/xGEtwvMMzk
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) October 27, 2022
One may be a bit surprised at this development, but the more one thinks about it, the more it makes sense.
A Booming Business
For one, the Warriors have won four NBA titles in the last eight years, and there is nothing that inflates a team’s value like current and recent success.
Winning championships or at least reaching the NBA Finals means more revenue for a team thanks to more home games in the playoffs, not to mention championship shirts, hats, and other merchandise.
This also means more money for many people involved with a team like the Warriors.
It’s a great example of the old saying that a rising tide lifts all ships.
But one shouldn’t ignore the fact that the Warriors don’t exactly play in a small market.
The San Francisco Bay Area may be the jealous little brother of Los Angeles, but it is the fifth most populous “combined statistical area” in the nation, and it is home to one of the densest concentrations of corporate wealth.
That wealth has trickled over to the Warriors, as they’re owned by Joe Lacob, who is a billionaire venture capitalist.
Under his leadership, the organization has developed connections to the ultra-powerful tech industry in the Bay which have no doubt helped it become the NBA’s reigning dynasty.
NEXT: Andrew Wiggins Reveals Long-Term Goal With Warriors