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57 NBA Financial Statistics for 2025

by Docsports.com - 10/15/2025

NBA financial stats

A new report by Doc's Sports explores the NBA’s financial landscape—from league revenue and franchise valuations to salary caps and growth trends. The NBA now generates over $11 billion annually, establishing itself as one of the most valuable sports leagues in the world.

Figures use league revenue and team revenues from public reporting and industry estimates. Year-over-year growth, to reflect the most recent season available, with prior-year data used where necessary.

  1. The NBA generated $11.3 billion in total revenue during 2024, representing a 6.8% increase from the previous year and establishing new records for league financial performance.
  2. The average NBA franchise is now valued at $4.66 billion according to CNBC's official 2025 valuations, positioning the league second among major sports, between the NFL ($7.1B average) and MLB ($2.8B average).
  3. Each NBA team generated an average of $376.7 million in revenue during 2024, based on the 30-team league structure.
  4. The Golden State Warriors led all franchises with $781 million in net revenue after revenue-sharing payments in the 2023-24 season.
  5. The Los Angeles Lakers ranked second in team revenue with $516 million, followed by the New York Knicks at $504 million.
  6. The Memphis Grizzlies generated the lowest revenue among NBA teams at $258 million during the 2022-23 season.
  7. League revenue has experienced 264.5% growth since 2000, when total NBA revenue was approximately $3.1 billion.
  8. The NBA's revenue growth has increased by 76% from 2020 to 2024, rising from $6.4 billion to $11.3 billion.
  9. National revenue accounts for 60% of total league income, while local revenue comprises the remaining 40%.
  10. The Golden State Warriors' revenue increased sevenfold since 2010, when they generated approximately $111 million annually.

    11. What Is the Average NBA Franchise Valuation in 2025?

    Valuations draw primarily from CNBC’s 2025 list, cross-checked with Forbes and Sportico. These represent modeled enterprise values that vary slightly by source and methodology.

  11. The Golden State Warriors hold the highest valuation at $9.4 billion according to CNBC, with Forbes listing them at $8.8 billion and Sportico at $9.14 billion.
  12. The New York Knicks rank second with a $7.5 billion valuation, despite recent on-court struggles, thanks to their Madison Square Garden location and iconic status.
  13. The Los Angeles Lakers complete the top three at $7 billion, maintaining their position as one of the NBA's crown jewels with 17 championships and Hollywood connections.
  14. The Chicago Bulls are valued at $5.8 billion, demonstrating the enduring value of their Michael Jordan legacy and global brand recognition.
  15. The Memphis Grizzlies represent the lowest valued franchise at $3.2 billion, though this still reflects substantial growth from historical valuations.
  16. The average NBA team valuation increased by 15% in 2024, with the league average rising to $4.66 billion.
  17. The Warriors' valuation has grown at a 24% compound annual growth rate since Joe Lacob and Peter Guber purchased the team for $450 million in 2010.
  18. The Brooklyn Nets are valued at $5.7 billion, ranking fourth among NBA franchises.
  19. The Boston Celtics maintain a $5.66 billion valuation despite winning the 2024 championship.
  20. The total combined value of all 30 NBA franchises reached $139.8 billion based on the average $4.66 billion per team.

    21. What Is the NBA Salary Cap?

    Cap and luxury-tax thresholds come from NBA and CBA publications. Player salaries are aggregated from league reports and verified databases; payroll totals reflect the sum of all team payrolls per season.

  21. The NBA salary cap for the 2024-25 season was set at $140.588 million, establishing the baseline for team payroll construction.
  22. The 2025-26 salary cap increased to $154.647 million, representing a 10% year-over-year increase.
  23. The luxury tax threshold for 2024-25 was $170.814 million, with teams paying penalties for exceeding this amount.
  24. The luxury tax line for 2025-26 rose to $187.895 million, maintaining the gap above the salary cap.
  25. The average NBA player salary reached $11.9 million for the 2024-25 season, significantly higher than other major sports leagues.
  26. The rookie minimum salary for 2024-25 is $1.157 million, providing substantial compensation for first-year players.
  27. The veteran minimum salary for players with 10+ years experience is $3.304 million, ensuring experienced players receive appropriate compensation.
  28. Stephen Curry leads all NBA players with a $55.8 million salary for the 2024-25 season.
  29. The total NBA payroll across all 30 teams reached $5.1 billion in 2024, representing approximately 45% of league revenue.
  30. NBA players receive approximately 51% of Basketball Related Income according to the current Collective Bargaining Agreement.

    31. What Is NBA Revenue Growth Since 1990?

    Historical revenue, salary, and cap data are sourced from official archives and secondary databases. All values are nominal and include key contract benchmarks to show long-term trends.

  31. NBA revenue has grown 34,885% since 1970, when the league generated approximately $32.3 million compared to today's $11.3 billion.
  32. The league experienced 2,160% revenue growth since 1990, rising from an estimated $500 million to current levels.
  33. Player salaries have grown 33,900% since the 1970s, when the average salary was approximately $35,000 compared to today's $11.9 million.
  34. The salary cap has increased 4,194% since its 1984-85 introduction at $3.6 million compared to the current $154.6 million.
  35. Michael Jordan earned $33.1 million during his final season in 1997-98, which was considered extraordinary at the time but is now common for star players.
  36. Magic Johnson's landmark 1981 contract was worth $25 million over 25 years, averaging $1 million per season.
  37. The revenue-to-salary growth ratio has remained relatively balanced at approximately 1:1 over the past five decades.
  38. NBA franchise values have increased faster than the S&P 500 by threefold since 2005.
  39. The first NBA salary cap in 1984-85 was $3.6 million, demonstrating the dramatic evolution in player compensation.

    40. By How Much Did the Media Rights Value Increase?

    Media-rights totals summarize the 2025–26 agreement, with partner-level estimates and comparisons to the previous deal. Team-level distributions are approximated from the total package.

  40. The NBA signed an 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal beginning with the 2025-26 season.
  41. The new media deal generates $6.9 billion annually, compared to the previous contract's $2.67 billion per year.
  42. This represents a 159% increase in annual media rights value from the expiring contract.
  43. ESPN/ABC will pay approximately $2.6 billion annually under the new agreement.
  44. NBC will return to NBA broadcasting with an estimated $2.5 billion annual commitment.
  45. Amazon Prime Video joined as a major partner with approximately $1.8 billion annually.
  46. Each NBA team will receive roughly $230 million per year from the national media rights distribution.
  47. The previous media rights deal was worth $24 billion over 9 years, highlighting the dramatic increase in broadcasting value.

    48. What Portion of NBA Income Comes from International Markets?

    International shares and market figures are based on official league statements and third-party reports. Percentages represent best-available estimates of both direct and indirect global income streams.

  48. International revenue constitutes approximately 15% of the NBA's total income, growing from 10% in previous seasons.
  49. China remains the dominant overseas market where an estimated 300 million people actively play basketball.
  50. European engagement has demonstrated 15% annual growth in subscription services across the continent.
  51. France experienced a 177% increase in NBA viewership since Victor Wembanyama's arrival.
  52. Slovenia saw a 49% surge in NBA interest following Luka Dončić's continued excellence.

    53. How Much Revenue Does the NBA Generate Per Player?

    Note: The following statistics are calculated by Doc’s Sports from verified data sources above. These are derived calculations based on verified league totals and team valuations. Ratios such as value-to-revenue and yield are computed using aggregate financial data and valuation averages.

  53. The NBA generates approximately $25.11 million in revenue per player across its 450-player roster structure.
  54. Each regular season game produces an average of $4.59 million in league-wide revenue based on 2,460 total games.
  55. The NBA's compound annual growth rate since 1970 has been 11.5%, significantly outpacing most investment benchmarks.
  56. Teams maintain an average value-to-revenue multiple of 12.4x, indicating strong investor confidence in future growth.
  57. The revenue yield on team valuations averages 8.08%, providing substantial returns for franchise owners.

Data Sources

  • NBA Teams Surpassed US$ 11.3 Billion in Revenue in 2024 - LinkedIn/Sports Value
  • CNBC's Official NBA Team Valuations 2025
  • NBA salary cap for 2024-25 season set at $140.588 million - NBA.com
  • [Stein] Salary cap for the 2025-26 season - Reddit/NBA
  • The NBA's Business Model - Investopedia
  • NBA Team Sponsorship Revenue Hits $1.6 Billion In 2024-2025 - Forbes
  • NBA revenue by type 2024 - Statista
  • NBA Season 2024-25 Prize Money: What's the average salary - Marca
  • 2024-2025 NBA Rookie Scale - RealGM
  • NBA signs new TV deal: Details on 11-year, $76 billion deal - CBS Sports
  • What is the average NBA salary for the 2024-25 season? - Orlando Magic Daily
  • Reports: NBA agrees to terms on $76B media rights deals - ESPN
  • What's the Minimum NBA Salary for 2024-25? - Sports Illustrated
  • 'Inside the NBA' moving to ESPN: What to know about TNT TV deal - USA Today
  • How NBA Salaries Have Increased the Past 50 Years - GiveMeSport
  • NBA revenue statistics (2001-2022) - RunRepeat
  • NBA Global Takeover: Does America's Fade Even Matter? - Sportsepreneur
  • Charlotte Hornets tag Judi Health for jersey patch sponsorship - SportsPro
  • NBA G League: Revenue, Competitors, Alternatives - Growjo
  • How the NBA Is Expanding Into International Markets - News Journal
  • NBA team sponsorship revenue up 8%, boosted by jersey patches - CNBC
  • Behind the Financial Situation and Economy of NBA G-League - Moguldom
  • Ranked: Which NBA Team Takes Home the Most Revenue? - Visual Capitalist
  • Seven-game Finals lifts NBA playoffs to five percent gain - Sports Media Watch
  • Golden State Warriors valued at US$9.4bn as average NBA team - SportsPro
  • NBA Team Valuations: Warriors, Knicks, Lakers each worth $8B+ - Reddit
  • Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Game 7 - ESPN Press Room
  • Game 7 on ABC delivers most-watched NBA Finals game in 6 years - NBA.com
  • 75 million people watch 2025 NBA Finals on ABC in U.S. - NBA Press Release
  • The NFL's Most Valuable Teams 2025 - Forbes
  • NBA New Media Rights Agreements Reflect The Growth Of Streaming - Forbes
  • MLS Salaries Vs. Other Pro Leagues Based On Revenue And Team - Forbes
  • What's behind the NBA rights surge in its new deal? - Ampere Analysis

This comprehensive analysis combines verified industry data with calculated metrics to provide an accurate picture of the NBA's financial ecosystem in 2025.

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