Forbes Names The Chicago Bulls The 4th Highest Valued NBA Franchise, And This Is Why "Fire Reinsdorf" Is Futile
(CBS) The Bulls are worth $2.5 billion, Forbes estimated in its newest release of NBA franchise valuations that came out Wednesday.
That $2.5 billion figure makes the Bulls the league’s fourth-most valuable franchise, trailing the Knicks ($3.3 billion), Lakers ($3 billion) and Warriors ($2.6 billion). It’s also an uptick in the Bulls’ worth over a year ago, when Forbes valued the franchise at $2.3 billion, which was the third-highest in the NBA. With the help of a 73-win season, the Warriors have since passed the Bulls in estimated worth in the past year.
The Celtics check in at fifth in value at $2.2 billion. The average franchise is worth $1.36 billion, per Forbes.
The Bulls have led the NBA in attendance in each of the past seven seasons and currently top that list again this year, though there has been a noticeable uptick in no-shows at the United Center as the Bulls are 27-29 and have produced an inconsistent on-court product.
The worth of NBA franchises has skyrocketed in recent seasons in large part because of a massive new league television deal that went into effect for the 2016-’17 season.
2.5 Billion dollars. Number 1 in attendance for SEVEN straight seasons even though we’ve been anywhere from average to good (except when we play Lebron then we’re shitty). Jerry and Michael Reinsdorf are making money hand over fist with the Bulls even when the on court product isn’t realistically competing for a Championship. Would you sell that asset? FUCK NO. So for the people saying Fire Reinsdorf, just stop, it’s never happening, ever. Michael has been running the show since 2010 so even when Jerry passes it’s not happening. Instead focus all your attention on Gar/Pax. Hope, pray, wish, that someone will come to their senses and clean house in the Front Office. That’s the only thing that is going to change here. Like I’ve said before this isn’t a James Dolan situation, where a bad owner is also a really bad guy. The Reinsdorfs aren’t going anywhere, they’re loyal to a fault and don’t make winning Goal number 1 but there are still worse owners to have in professional sports. All we can hope for is Pax and that weird hair cut Gar to kick rocks sooner rather than later.
PS
The funniest part about this Bulls Front Office is the uncanny ability for the team to do JUST enough to give them something to cling on to. They’re 6-2 in their last 8 games against the Cavs and on an ELEVEN game winning streak against the Raptors. The Raptors have been the second best team in the East for a few years now and they simply can not beat the Bulls. Last night, Jimmy’s first game back after a couple weeks off and it was same as it ever was, when the Raptors play the Bulls between October and April, they lose. That’s so fucking stupid. Regular Season gangsters.