Not that it comes as any surprise but Dr. Buss is sitting on a Purple and Gold mine. Yesterday Forbes released its annual franchise rankings for the NBA listing the Lakers as the second most valuable behind only the New York Knicks.
This is really a two horse race when you look at the numbers. Forbes values the Knicks at $655-million with the Lakers just off the mark at $643-million. After these two there is a steep drop off with the Bulls third valued at $511-million.
Other notable valuations are the differences between the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Heat has increased in value by 17% in one year, placing the Miami franchise 7th. As for Byron Scott’s Cavs, they’re ranked 15th down 26% from one year ago. Hummmm….wonder what happened that could make that change occur?
In Cali, the Lakers reign supreme (naturally) with the East Bay Warriors ranked 12th, the Clippers 22nd and the Sacramento Queens 24th. Something tells me the Clippers will climb out of the bottom 10 in one year’s time.