Forbes: Lakers Are Most Valuable Franchise In NBA
NEW YORK (CBS/AP) -- The Los Angeles Lakers have surpassed the New York Knicks as the NBA's most valuable team, according to Forbes' annual report.
The magazine (www.forbes.com/nba) said Wednesday that the Lakers' value had increased 40 percent since last year to $900 million thanks to its blockbuster Time Warner TV deal that is 30-years, $3 billion. The Knicks' value increased 19 percent to $780 million with a boost from the renovation of Madison Square Garden. The Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics round out the top five.
Despite a shortened season, the average team is worth $393 million, up 6.5 percent from last year, aided by the new collective bargaining agreement.
The Milwaukee Bucks are the least valuable team at $268 million.
| Rank | Team | Current Value ($mil) | 1-Yr Value Change (%) | Debt/Value (%) | Revenue ($mil) | Operating Income ($mil) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Los Angeles Lakers |
900 | 40 | 13 | 208 | 24.3 |
| 2 |
New York Knicks |
780 | 19 | 0 | 244 | 74.9 |
| 3 |
Chicago Bulls |
600 | 17 | 9 | 185 | 59.4 |
| 4 |
Dallas Mavericks |
497 | 13 | 40 | 166 | -3.9 |
| 5 |
Boston Celtics |
482 | 7 | 37 | 146 | 7.7 |
| 6 |
Miami Heat |
457 | 8 | 34 | 158 | 26.0 |
| 7 |
Houston Rockets |
453 | 2 | 22 | 150 | 17.9 |
| 8 |
Golden State Warriors |
450 | 24 | 33 | 139 | 22.2 |
| 9 |
San Antonio Spurs |
418 | 3 | 12 | 139 | 14.4 |
| 10 |
Phoenix Suns |
395 | -4 | 47 | 136 | 13.1 |
