The Knicks And Lakers Top The NBA’s Most Valuable Teams 2017

Leading the way are a pair of big-market franchises mired in dysfunction: the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers. The pair have lost 68% of their games over the past three-plus seasons, but businesswise it seems that they can do no wrong.

The Knicks are in total disarray with the media/Twitter war between star Carmelo Anthony and President Phil Jackson, while beloved ex-Knick Charles Oakley gets thrown out of Madison Square Garden and former malcontent Latrell Sprewell is now BFFs with owner James Dolan. Despite the turmoil, the Knicks are the NBA’s most valuable team for the second straight year, worth $3.3 billion, up 10% over last year.

The Knicks have been shut out of the playoffs since 2013, but they are reaping the rewards of a $1 billion renovation of Madison Square Garden, which produced new revenue opportunities from sponsorships and seating. The team turned an NBA-record operating profit of $141 million last season despite a 32-50 tally on the hardwood. It was the first season of the team’s new local cable deal with MSG, which paid $100 million in year one.

The Lakers are worth $3 billion, up 11%. Last season was the worst in franchise history on the court, but the team still made a mint as fans flocked to the Staples Center to see the Kobe Bryant retirement tour.

The team sold out Staples per usual with courtside seats costing $2,750 per game. Bryant’s final game featured $1.2 million worth of Kobe merchandise sold at the Staples Center, setting a one-day sales record for an arena. The Lakers banked $119 million in profit, second most behind the Knicks.

The Knicks and Lakers have been the NBA’s most valuable teams for nearly two decades (both have held the top spot), but they better watch their backs because another franchise is soaring up the ranks. The value of the Golden State Warriors jumped an NBA-high 37% to $2.6 billion, third place in the league (the Warriors ranked sixth last year).

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