The Memphis Grizzlies franchise is at the bottom.
Forbes has put out its list of what it calls the most valuable National Basketball Association franchises. The magazine-website actually lists the valuation of all 30 businesses. A franchise is worth what an owner can get from an individual or a group of individuals who want a team. One time NBA Vancouver and Memphis Grizzlies owner Michael Heisey said that an owner buys a franchise for one of three reasons. One to be the big man in town, a guy everyone looks up to with respect because that guy owns a team. Two, make a little money or lose a little money but have fun being an owner. Three to cash out at the end of the day. Heisey did cash out. In 1999, he purchased the Vancouver Grizzlies franchise for a reported $160 million. Heisey moved the business to Memphis in 2001. In 2012, Heisey sold the franchise for a reported $350 million more than double what he paid for the business.
Forbes has the Golden State Warriors franchise at the top spot claiming the business is worth $7.7 billion. James Dolan’s New York Knicks business comes in at number two at $6.6 billion followed by the Los Angeles Lakers franchise at $6.4 billion. The Boston Celtics franchise clocks in at four with a $4.7 billion valuation and Steve Ballmer’s Los Angeles Clippers business is at $4.65 billion. Ballmer is moving from Los Angeles to Inglewood in 2024.The bottom five businesses are valuable but not like the top five. Orlando is worth $2.95 billion followed by the Indianapolis-based Pacers franchise at $2.9 billion. Gayle Benson’s New Orleans Pelicans franchise is 28th at 2.55 billion. Minnesota’s NBA club is worth $2.5 billion and Heisey’s old business, the Memphis Grizzlies came in at $2.4 billion six times more than what Heisey got when he sold the team.
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