Cowboys, Warriors, Yankees, Top Sports Valuations After Lakers' Reported $10B Sale

The Los Angeles Lakers made history on Wednesday when the Buss family sold the team at a reported $10 billion valuation.

That sale, which was to Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter, who is the CEO and chairman of TWG Global, sets a new record for the largest sale of a professional sports franchise.

With the Lakers selling for such a high mark, other owners might be looking to cash in as well. According to a list of the highest valued teams from Sportico in February, the Dallas Cowboys were valued at $10.32 billion, the Golden State Warriors came in at $9.14 billion, the New York Knicks were valued at $8.3 billion and the New York Yankees were listed at $7.93 billion.

Some NBA teams sold recently include the Boston Celtics, who sold for $6.1 billion in March, and the Dallas Mavericks, who sold for $3.5 billion in 2023.

In the NFL, the San Francisco 49ers sold a minority stake earlier this year, and the team was valued at $8.6 billion. The Washington Commanders sold for $6 billion in 2023.

It's hard to say what sports team will be sold next and for how much, but if Jerry Jones ever decides to sell the Cowboys, it seems he could take the crown for the most expensive sale of a sports team.

Much like the Lakers in the NBA, the Cowboys are a staple of the NFL and will always be considered one of the most sought-after franchises, no matter how good the team is at the particular moment.

Given the fact that teams seem to increase in value every year, when the Cowboys are sold, it could be for far more than $10 billion.

There are a few factors that go into how much a team is valued. While success certainly has something to do with it, the size of the market is a major factor as well. That's why a team like the Knicks, which hasn't had much success over the past few decades, could end up being sold for around the same price as the Lakers.

The size of Los Angeles compared to Boston could also explain why the Lakers were sold for nearly $4 million more than the Celtics, despite having a similar history of success.

Whether the sale of the Lakers on Monday will inspire other team owners to put their respective teams on the market is to be determined, but it's clear that the value of sports teams is only going to continue growing.