HOUSTON – According to a Forbes.com article, every NBA team is now worth at least $1 billion for the first time.
Leslie Alexander recently sold the Rockets to Tilman Fertitta for $2.2 billion.
By comparison, the article says the average NFL team is worth $2.5 billion.
The Rockets are the seventh-most valuable franchise at the amount Fertitta paid for the team, up 33 percent from the year before.
As far as Texas teams go, Houston is more valuable than the Dallas Mavericks ($1.9 billion, up 31 percent from 2016) and the San Antonio Spurs ($1.55 billion, up 32 percent from 2016).
The New York Knicks are the most valuable franchise in the NBA, worth an estimated $3.6 billion, up 9 percent from last year.
The Philadelphia 76ers have the most gain in value over the past year, jumping 48 percent to $1.18 billion.
The least valuable franchise, according to the article, is the New Orleans Pelicans, worth an estimated $1 billion.
Every team gained worth in the last season, but the Chicago Bulls were responsible for the least growth with a 4 percent increase to $2.6 billion.
To read more of the Forbes article, click here.
Here is a complete list of the findings:
- New York Knicks - $3.6 billion
- Los Angeles Lakers - $3.3 billion
- Golden State Warriors - $3.1 billion
- Chicago Bulls - $2.6 billion
- Boston Celtics - $2.5 billion
- Brooklyn Nets - $2.3 billion
- Houston Rockets - $2.2 billion
- Los Angeles Clippers - $2.15 billion
- Dallas Mavericks - $1.9 billion
- Miami Heat - $1.7 billion
- San Antonio Spurs - $1.55 billion
- Toronto Raptors - $1.4 billion
- Sacramento Kings - $1.375 billion
- Washington Wizards - $1.35 billion
- Cleveland Cavaliers - $1.325 billion
- Portland Trail Blazers - $1.3 billion
- Phoenix Suns - $1.28 billion
- Oklahoma City Thunder - $1.25 billion
- Orlando Magic - $1.225 billion
- Utah Jazz - $1.2 billion
- Philadelphia 76ers - $1.18 billion
- Indiana Pacers - $1.175 billion
- Atlanta Hawks - $1.15 billion
- Denver Nuggets - $1.125 billion
- Detroit Pistons - $1.1 billion
- Milwaukee Bucks - $1.075 billion
- Minnesota Timberwolves - $1.06 billion
- Charlotte Hornets - $1.05 billion
- Memphis Grizzlies - $1.025 billion
- New Orleans Pelicans - $1 billion