Forbes has been keeping track of NBA team valuations since 1998, but they are not the only media outlet doing that anymore. Sportico joined in 2020 and CNBC in 2025.
According to Forbes, NBA teams have appreciated by around 2,200 percent on average since the publication started releasing valuations 27 years ago. In 2001, Forbes ranked the Knicks as the most valuable franchise at $395 million. In 2025, the least valuable team is the Grizzlies at $3 billion.
Check out the NBA team valuations ranking we’ve created by compiling data from these three media outlets. They all agree that the Warriors, the Knicks, and the Lakers are the Top 3 NBA franchises by value.
Alex Slitz/Getty Images
CNBC: $9.40 billion
Sportico: $9.14 billion
Forbes: $8.80 billion
Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Sportico: $8.30 billion
CNBC: $7.50 billion
Forbes: $7.50 billion
Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images
Sportico: $8.07 billion
Forbes: $7.10 billion
CNBC: $7.00 billion
Elsa/Getty Images
Forbes: $6.00 billion
Sportico: $5.66 billion
CNBC: $5.50 billion
Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Sportico: $5.68 billion
Forbes: $5.50 billion
CNBC: $5.40 billion
Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
CNBC: $5.80 billion
Sportico: $5.56 billion
Forbes: $5.00 billion
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Sportico: $5.70 billion
CNBC: $5.60 billion
Forbes: $4.80 billion
Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
CNBC: $5.70 billion
Forbes: $4.90 billion
Sportico: $4.77 billion
Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
CNBC: $5.10 billion
Sportico: $5.00 billion
Forbes: $4.25 billion
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
CNBC: $5.00 billion
Forbes: $4.70 billion
Sportico: $4.46 billion
Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
CNBC: $4.90 billion
Forbes: $4.60 billion
Sportico: $4.57 billion
Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Sportico: $4.66 billion
CNBC: $4.50 billion
Forbes: $4.40 billion
Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
CNBC: $4.60 billion
Sportico: $4.32 billion
Forbes: $4.30 billion
Patrick Smith/Getty Images
CNBC: $4.25 billion
Forbes: $4.10 billion
Sportico: $3.98 billion
Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images
CNBC: $4.45 billion
Sportico: $4.11 billion
Forbes: $3.70 billion
Jason Miller/Getty Images
CNBC: $4.35 billion
Forbes: $3.95 billion
Sportico: $3.95 billion
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
CNBC: $4.30 billion
Sportico: $4.07 billion
Forbes: $3.80 billion
Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
CNBC: $4.20 billion
Sportico: $4.06 billion
Forbes: $3.90 billion
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
CNBC: $4.10 billion
Forbes: $4.00 billion
Sportico: $3.91 billion
Megan Briggs/Getty Images
Forbes: $3.85 billion
Sportico: $3.79 billion
CNBC: $3.70 billion
Chris Nicoll-Imagn Images
CNBC: $3.75 billion
Sportico: $3.67 billion
Forbes: $3.55 billion
Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
CNBC: $3.65 billion
Sportico: $3.60 billion
Forbes: $3.50 billion
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Sportico: $3.74 billion
Forbes: $3.60 billion
CNBC: $3.40 billion
Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Forbes: $3.65 billion
Sportico: $3.55 billion
CNBC: $3.50 billion
David Banks-Imagn Images
CNBC: $3.45 billion
Sportico: $3.45 billion
Forbes: $3.40 billion
Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
CNBC: $3.55 billion
Sportico: $3.46 billion
Forbes: $3.20 billion
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Sportico: $3.39 billion
CNBC: $3.35 billion
Forbes: $3.30 billion
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Sportico: $3.29 billion
CNBC: $3.25 billion
Forbes: $3.10 billion
Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
CNBC: $3.30 billion
Sportico: $3.09 billion
Forbes: $3.05 billion
Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
CNBC: $3.20 billion
Sportico: $3.06 billion
Forbes: $3.00 billion
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