In the latest sign that professional sports is the top entertainment industry in existence, we've learned that all 30 NBA franchises are worth billions of dollars apiece. There's no better time to own a team than right now. Numbers will only increase exponentially from here on out.
In a recent Sportico study, the NBA has seen all 30 of its franchises combine for $199 billion in 2026. Each team is valued at around $6.6 billion — an eye-popping 21% just from last year's numbers. Since 2020, the number has jumped by a jaw-dropping 183%. I mean, wow. NBA ownership groups across the league have certainly gotten their money's worth in just the past six years.
Where do the Oklahoma City Thunder rank in that? They're 22nd at a respectable $5 billion.
That's a plus-15% jump over the last year. For comparison, they were valued at a pedestrian — I say that with a grin — $1.75 billion in 2022. Pshh. Pocket change.
I'm sure some of that has to do with the Thunder rapidly going from a rebuild to an NBA champion to a possible NBA dynasty. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has become a two-time MVP winner; Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren are each All-NBA talents. But it's been a league-wide trend this decade to see teams increase their value by the billions every calendar year.
It helps that the league revenue continues to grow. The NBA received around $14 billion in that department last season. That was a 12% one-year jump. It shouldn't be a shocker to see that number increase in the coming years. Especially since they're in the infancy stages of their mega-sized 11-year national media broadcast deal. NBA expansion also feels imminent with Seattle and Las Vegas. Two additional teams could add to the bottom line.
Even if the Thunder aren't worth as much as some of the glamor NBA franchises like the Golden State Warriors ($14.5 billion) or the New York Knicks ($12.8 billion), they've surely felt the league-wide trend of seeing their financial pockets grow deeper by just sitting around and letting Sam Presti build up one of the top title contenders.
It's a great time to be part of an NBA ownership group. Thunder owner Clay Bennett and company have frankly never had a better ROI in their near two decades' worth of work than right now. Especially with OKC being one of the main characters of the league for the last handful and the next handful of years. Money should keep on pouring in.
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: OKC Thunder see NBA franchise value balloon to $5 billion in 2026
