​Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) and Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkić (30) compete for the opening tipoff during an NBA game held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026.
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Isaac Hale, Deseret News
The pending sale of the Los Angeles Lakers to venture capitalist Josh Kushner and former Disney CEO Bob Iger for $12.5 billion is the highest franchise valuation in professional sports history.Less than a year after Mark Walter paid $10 billion for the team, he flipped it, as Forbes wrote, like a piece of real estate.It’s a good analogy. NBA franchise valuations are largely set by comparable sales, what economists call “comps,” just like real estate. When the most recent comp jumps 25% in one year, the implied value of every other franchise rises with it.
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) is introduced before an NBA game against the Dallas Mavericks at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026.
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Tess Crowley, Deseret News
“Sports teams are generally valued as a multiple of the revenue they generate, and when one person is willing to pay a much higher premium than the prior consensus, it often raises valuations across the entire league,” per Forbes.An executive from an Eastern Conference team told ESPN that numbers like $12.5 billion for a team are good for NBA owners.“Look, the NBA continues to grow in value as an asset. The teams continue to grow because the business is performing really well. It’s probably better with the new players that have come in and the parity in the league, it’s probably a better product than we’ve ever had. … So, there’s a ton of interest in the sport. I think that’s now reflected in the value,” the executive said.The old adage that a rising tide lifts all boats seems applicable.Will the Utah Jazz valuation go up?
Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith smiles as he looks to head coach Will Hardy during an NBA game against the Brooklyn Nets held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026.
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