NBA projects record $14.3 billion in revenue for 2025-26 season

The NBA is expecting a massive financial leap in its first year under the new media rights deal with ESPN/ABC, NBC, and Amazon.

According to Sportico’s Kurt Badenhausen (via Hoops Rumors), the league projects total gross revenue of $14.3 billion for the 2025-26 season — a 12% jump from last year’s $12.75 billion.

The projection, shared with team owners in September, includes all league and team-generated income aside from non-NBA arena events.

The surge is largely driven by the new $76 billion broadcast deal, which will significantly boost television payouts.

Each team’s share of TV revenue will rise from $103 million to $143 million this season, with annual increases of roughly 7% expected going forward.

While plenty of revenue streams contribute — including ticket sales, licensing, and international growth — the media deal remains the biggest factor. For players, that means good news on the financial front.

Basketball-related income (BRI), which determines the salary cap and luxury tax levels, is projected to grow accordingly.

Last season’s BRI came in at $10.25 billion, slightly below expectations due to the collapse of several local TV markets and the lack of major-market playoff runs, which dented postseason gate receipts.

The shortfall forced players to return about $484 million to teams to maintain the 51/49 split between players and owners.

This year’s new media structure should stabilize that. With national revenue now locked in for the long term and less reliant on local broadcast uncertainty, both sides can expect steadier growth.

For the league, it’s validation that global interest and digital reach continue to rise. For the players, it likely means higher salary caps, fewer escrow clawbacks — and fatter checks as the NBA’s financial momentum rolls on.