The NBA is expanding into Europe and aims to unlock new potential in collaboration with FIBA. A ranking of the most valuable franchises highlights the economic scale of the world’s top professional basketball league.
In this Insight:
The strong financial growth of the National Basketball Association (NBA) is especially reflected in the brand value of the franchises it markets. This value is calculated based on revenue, EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization), and media reach. According to the latest valuations, the Golden State Warriors lead the ranking with a value of USD 9.4 billion, followed by the New York Knicks (USD 7.5 billion) and the Los Angeles Lakers (USD 7.0 billion).
The Boston Celtics, who were recently sold for a record-breaking USD 6.1 billion, only rank seventh due to comparatively lower profitability (EBITDA) — meaning they were sold above their actual market value.
Expansion as the Key to Commercial Growth
To live up to these high valuations and tap into further monetization opportunities, the NBA is now intensifying its international expansion — with Europe becoming a key focus. In cooperation with FIBA, concrete plans for a European basketball league are currently taking shape. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver recently stated that “the next phase of internationalization has begun.” Cities such as London, Paris, Berlin, and Munich are being considered as potential locations for future franchise teams or regular NBA games in Europe.
Insights into this expansion strategy will be shared by David Brody, Vice President Global Partner Management at the NBA, at the SPOBIS Summit “Sports Clubs” on May 23 in Hamburg. At this new industry event, Brody will talk about the league’s goals in Europe and how the NBA plans to further grow its international presence.
SPOBIS Summits: New Event Series Highlighting Core Sports Business Topics
SPOBIS Summits are a new event format that offers compact deep dives into the most relevant topics in sports business — featuring top-level speakers, clear thematic focus, and high-quality networking. The first edition, presented by EHF Marketing, focuses on Sports Clubs and brings together decision-makers from handball, basketball, volleyball, and ice hockey. In addition to the NBA, confirmed participants include CTS EVENTIM Sports and EHF Marketing.
More information: https://www.spobis-conference.com/summit-sports-clubs
