Knicks Pass Lakers In Forbes Value Rankings
NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Knicks have overtaken the Los Angeles Lakers as the NBA's most valuable franchise, and 17 of the 30 teams are estimated to have lost money last season, according to Forbes.
The Knicks' value rose 12 percent from $586 million to $655 million, the magazine said Wednesday in its annual evaluation.
The Lakers went up 6 percent from $607 million to $643 million.
Chicago was third at $511 million, followed by Boston ($452 million), Houston ($443 million) and Dallas ($438 million).
After signing Lebron James, the Miami Heat had the biggest percentage rise, a 17 percent increase to $425 million, good for seventh place. Following the loss of James, Cleveland dropped a league-high 26 percent to $355 million.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Forbes.com NBA Team Valuations:
| Rank | Team | Current Value1 ($mil) | 1-Yr Value Change (%) | Debt/Value3 (%) | Revenue4 ($mil) | Operating Income5 ($mil) |
| 1 | New York Knicks | 613 | 1 | 0 | 208 | 29.6 |
| 2 | Los Angeles Lakers | 584 | 4 | 22 | 191 | 47.9 |
| 3 | Chicago Bulls | 504 | 1 | 11 | 165 | 55.4 |
| 4 | Detroit Pistons | 480 | 1 | 0 | 160 | 40.4 |
| 5 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 477 | 5 | 42 | 159 | 13.1 |
| 6 | Houston Rockets | 469 | 1 | 15 | 156 | 31.2 |
| 7 | Dallas Mavericks | 466 | 1 | 26 | 153 | -13.6 |
| 8 | Phoenix Suns | 452 | 1 | 39 | 148 | 28.9 |
| 9 | Boston Celtics | 447 | 14 | 40 | 149 | 20.1 |
| 10 | San Antonio Spurs | 415 | 3 | 13 | 138 | 19.0 |
| 11 | Toronto Raptors | 400 | 7 | 40 | 138 | 27.7 |
| 12 | Miami Heat | 393 | -6 | 43 | 131 | -1.1 |
| 13 | Philadelphia 76ers | 360 | -5 | 18 | 116 | 0.3 |
| 14 | Utah Jazz | 358 | 5 | 3 | 119 | 8.8 |
| 15 | Washington Wizards | 353 | 2 | 47 | 118 | 14.9 |
| 16 | Sacramento Kings | 350 | -9 | 24 | 117 | 7.0 |
| 17 | Orlando Magic | 349 | 8 | 29 | 100 | 6.2 |
| 18 | Golden State Warriors | 335 | 8 | 22 | 112 | 14.2 |
| 19 | Denver Nuggets | 329 | 3 | 14 | 112 | -26.3 |
| 20 | Portland Trail Blazers | 307 | 21 | 34 | 114 | -0.9 |
| 21 | Atlanta Hawks | 306 | 7 | 23 | 102 | 6.7 |
| 22 | Indiana Pacers | 303 | -9 | 16 | 101 | -6.5 |
| 23 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 301 | -2 | 17 | 100 | -5.7 |
| 24 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 300 | 12 | 47 | 82 | -9.4 |
| 25 | Los Angeles Clippers | 297 | 1 | 0 | 99 | 10.7 |
| 26 | New Jersey Nets | 295 | -13 | 71 | 98 | -0.9 |
| 27 | Memphis Grizzlies | 294 | -3 | 51 | 95 | -3.2 |
| 28 | New Orleans Hornets | 285 | 5 | 35 | 95 | 3.2 |
| 29 | Charlotte Bobcats | 284 | -1 | 53 | 95 | -4.9 |
| 30 | Milwaukee Bucks | 278 | 5 | 20 | 94 | 5.4 |
