The Golden State Warriors are sitting atop the NBA once again - not in the standings, but in the bank books. For the second straight year, the franchise has been named the league’s most valuable team, with a staggering valuation of $10.8 billion, according to CNBC’s latest figures for 2026.
That number puts Golden State in elite company. Only two other teams - the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers - have crossed the $10 billion threshold. And while those franchises have long been considered financial juggernauts due to their massive markets and storied histories, the Warriors’ rise has been more meteoric, driven by a mix of on-court dominance and off-court business savvy.
Let’s break down why Golden State is in a league of its own when it comes to revenue generation.
The Chase Center Effect
At the heart of the Warriors’ financial empire is Chase Center, their state-of-the-art arena that opened in 2019. Unlike many NBA teams that lease their arenas or share them with other entities, the Warriors own theirs - and that changes everything.
Owning the building means owning the revenue streams. And the Warriors are maximizing every inch of it.
Ticket sales? Tops in the league.
Sponsorships and advertising? Leading the pack.
Luxury suites and premium seating? They’ve turned that into an art form.
From corporate partnerships to naming rights, the Chase Center is more than a home court - it’s a money-making machine.
And it’s not just basketball. The arena hosts everything from concerts to college hoops to major international events like the 2025 Laver Cup in tennis.
The WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries also call it home, adding even more value to the building’s year-round utility. The result?
A venue that’s constantly buzzing - and constantly bringing in revenue.
A Dynasty That Paid Off
Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the team playing inside that arena has been one of the most successful of the modern era. Since 2015, the Warriors have captured four NBA championships, built a global brand, and featured some of the most iconic players of the 21st century. That kind of success builds fan loyalty, drives merchandise sales, and fills arenas - not just at home, but on the road.
It’s the perfect storm: a championship-caliber team playing in a world-class facility, in one of the most tech-savvy, high-income regions in the country. Add in a forward-thinking ownership group, and you’ve got the blueprint for building a billion-dollar basketball empire.
From $450 Million to $10.8 Billion
When Joe Lacob and his investment group bought the Warriors for $450 million back in 2010, few could have predicted what was coming. Fast forward 16 years, and the team is now worth nearly 24 times that amount. That’s not just a good return - that’s generational wealth.
And while valuations are just that - numbers on paper - they reflect something real: the strength of the brand, the health of the business, and the long-term trajectory of the franchise. Lacob hasn’t shown any signs of selling, and with the team’s infrastructure and market position, there’s little reason to.
The Big Picture
The NBA as a whole saw modest growth during the 2024-25 season, but the fact that three franchises have now crossed the $10 billion mark speaks volumes about where the league is headed. Media rights, global reach, and arena ownership are reshaping the economics of the sport.
But no one’s doing it quite like Golden State. The Warriors have built more than a basketball team - they’ve built a business empire. And for now, they’re the gold standard in the NBA.