Forbes: Nuggets' franchise value skyrockets year over year

The NBA is growing and thriving like never before and it’s not hard to envision a world where the value of NBA franchises eventually exceeds their NFL counterparts.

According to a 2018 Forbes report, the average NBA team is now worth a record $1.65 billion — a 22 percent increase from 2017. Forbes’ 2017 report on NFL team values pegged the average franchise at $2.5 billion — only an eight percent jump from 2016.

For the first time in league history, every NBA team is now worth at least $1 billion and the Denver Nuggets are one of many franchises to see their value skyrocket year over year.

The Nuggets are now worth 1.125 billion, per Forbes — a 26 percent increase from Denver’s valuation in 2017. Stan Kroenke bought the Nuggets along with the Avalanche and the Pepsi Center where both franchises still play for $450 million in 2000. Denver is the league’s 24th most valuable franchise, per the report.

Many NBA teams have seen their valuations skyrocket over the past year.

The Philadelphia 76ers were the league’s biggest mover, increasing their value by a league-best 48 percent. The Minnesota Timberwolves saw their valuation jump by 38 percent. The Milwaukee Bucks’ value rose by 37 percent.

The three highest-valued franchises — the Knicks, Lakers and Warriors — saw their values increase by nine, 10 and 19 percent respectively. The Chicago Bulls — the league’s fourth highest valued franchise — increased by a league-low four percent in 2017.

With a young core of Nikola Jokic (age 22), Jamal Murray (age 20) and Gary Harris (age 23) emerging this season, Denver’s value is on the rise and with the organization on track for its first playoff appearance in five seasons, expect the Nuggets’ value to significantly jump again in 2019.