Owning a major NBA team is an accomplishment as it requires a lot of investments in coaches, managers, players and other staff in order for the franchise to run efficiently. Athletic prowess, competition, and great talent in the NBA league attract massive fortune for the players and franchise owners.
NBA franchises are a highly coveted asset and NBA ownership is an exclusive club which can only hold 30 members. The NBA owners play a huge role in the success of the team and yet are mostly away from the limelight.
An average NBA team is worth $2.48 billion, according to Forbes’ report back in 2022. Many entrepreneurs and corporate giants have come together to own the rights of an NBA franchise.
Below-mentioned are the team owners of the respective NBA teams:
| Franchise | Principal owner(s) | Operating entities | Purchase price (US$ millions) | Owned since |
| Atlanta Hawks | Tony Ressler, Grant Hill, Steven Price, Rick Schnall, Sara Blakely, Jesse Itzler | Hawks Basketball, Inc. | 730 | 2015 |
| Boston Celtics | Wyc Grousbeck, Stephen Pagliuca, H. Irving Grousbeck, David Bonderman, Jim Breyer, James Pallotta, Glenn Hutchins, Jonathan Lavine | Boston Basketball Partners | 360 | 2002 |
| Brooklyn Nets | Joseph Tsai | J Tsai Sports | 2350 | 2019 |
| Charlotte Hornets | Gabe Plotkin, Rick Schnall | 3000 | 2023 | |
| Chicago Bulls | Jerry Reinsdorf | Chicago Professional Sports Limited Partnership | 16.2 | 1985 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | Dan Gilbert | Cavaliers Entertainment LLC | 375 | 2005 |
| Dallas Mavericks | Miriam Adelson, Patrick Dumont | Dallas Basketball Limited | 280 | 2023 |
| Denver Nuggets | Ann Walton Kroenke | Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, Denver Nuggets Limited Partnership | 202 | 2000 |
| Detroit Pistons | Tom Gores | Palace Sports & Entertainment, Detroit Pistons Basketball Company | 325 | 2011 |
| Golden State Warriors | Joe Lacob (majority), Peter Guber | GSW Sports LLC | 450 | 2010 |
| Houston Rockets | Tilman Fertitta | Fertitta Entertainment | 2200 | 2017 |
| Indiana Pacers | Herbert Simon | Pacers Sports & Entertainment, Pacers Basketball, LLC | 10.5 | 1983 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | Steve Ballmer | LAC Basketball Club, Inc. | 2000 | 2014 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | Jeanie Buss, Jim Buss and Johnny Buss, along with siblings in the Jerry Buss family trust. | The Los Angeles Lakers, Inc. | 20 & 268 | 1979 & 1998 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | Robert J. Pera | Memphis Basketball LLC | 377 | 2012 |
| Miami Heat | Micky Arison | Miami Heat Limited Partnership | 68 | 1995 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | Marc Lasry and Wesley Edens | Milwaukee Bucks, Inc. | 550 | 2014 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | Glen Taylor | Minnesota Timberwolves Basketball Limited Partnership | 88.5 | 1995 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | Gayle Benson | New Orleans Pelicans NBA Limited Partnership | 338 | 2012 |
| New York Knicks | James Dolan | The Madison Square Garden Company, New York Knicks, Inc. | 300 | 1997 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | Clay Bennett | Professional Basketball Club LLC | 325 | 2006 |
| Orlando Magic | Dan DeVos | RDV Sports, Inc., Orlando Magic, Ltd. | 85 | 1991 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | Josh Harris and David Blitzer | Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment | 287 | 2011 |
| Phoenix Suns | Mat Ishbia and Justin Ishbia | Unknown | 4000 | 2023 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | Jody Allen | Vulcan Inc., Trail Blazers, Inc. | 70 | 1988 |
| Sacramento Kings | Vivek Ranadivé, Paul E. Jacobs, Gary E. Jacobs, Hal Jacobs, Jeffrey A. Jacobs | Sacramento Kings Partnership Group (operating entity yet to be named) | 534 | 2013 |
| San Antonio Spurs | Peter J. Holt | Spurs Sports & Entertainment, San Antonio Spurs LLC | 76 | 1993 |
| Toronto Raptors | Larry Tanenbaum, Rogers Communications, BCE | Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, Toronto Raptors Basketball Club | 467 | 1998 |
| Utah Jazz | Ryan Smith, Ashley Smith, Ryan Sweeney, Mike Cannon-Brookes, the Miller Family, Dwyane Wade | Jazz Basketball Investors, Inc. | 1660 | 2021 |
| Washington Wizards | Ted Leonsis | Monumental Sports & Entertainment | 551 | 2010 |
FAQ's on List of NBA Team Owners
A. Adam Silver has been the CEO of the NBA since February 1, 2014.
A. Walter Brown thought that the vacant ice hockey arenas could host basketball games at night which is when he established the Basketball Association of America. It then merged with the National Basketball League to found the NBA.
A. The Golden State Warriors are the most expensive franchise in the NBA as of the 2021-22 NBA season.
A. Adam Silver confirmed in 2019 that the team owners would be called governors or alternate governors instead of the owners.
A. The Sacramento Kings are the oldest team founded in 1923
