Are NBA Teams Still Undervalued?

Semafor
SemaforMay 6, 2026

Why It Matters

Understanding NBA franchise valuation helps investors gauge a high‑growth, low‑correlation asset class that can enhance long‑term portfolio returns.

Key Takeaways

  • Sports ownership often yields long‑term appreciation despite high entry cost.
  • The speaker accepted a $1.5 billion NBA team price without negotiation.
  • Owner regrets stem from rapid franchise value increase, not deal terms.
  • NBA franchises may still be undervalued relative to future growth potential.
  • Fun‑centric assets eventually plateau, but NBA likely resists that trend.

Summary

The video explores whether NBA franchises remain undervalued, using the speaker’s recent $1.5 billion purchase as a case study. He recounts meeting with the seller, Glenn Taylor, and deciding to accept the asking price without any negotiation, driven by the belief that sports ownership is both fun and a solid long‑term investment.

Key insights include the notion that NBA teams appreciate annually and are largely uncorrelated with traditional asset classes. The buyer’s rationale was simple: if the league’s growth trajectory holds, holding the team for a decade or more should yield substantial upside, even if the initial outlay seems steep. He also argues that the market may still price teams below their eventual worth.

Notable moments feature the speaker’s “sign me up” attitude and the seller’s comment that they “didn’t give a reason not to do this deal.” The former owner’s later regret centers on the franchise’s rapid value surge, not on any perceived negotiation misstep, underscoring the upside of a hands‑off acquisition approach.

Implications suggest that investors viewing NBA franchises as “fun” assets might still capture significant appreciation, though the speaker warns that any asset class eventually reaches a saturation point. For now, the league appears to defy that pattern, making it an attractive, albeit pricey, addition to a diversified portfolio.

Original Description

"I just assumed if you're gonna have fun, you're gonna lose money ... You're telling me it goes up in value every year? And it's uncorrelated with every other asset class? Sign me up."
Marc Lore tells Semafor that sports teams are still undervalued — because he and Alex Rodriguez are having too much fun.
#NBA #WNBA #Sports #SportsBusiness #Basketball #Timberwolves

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