Eighty years ago, the first game of its NBA predecessor was held in front of 7,090 spectators, but in 2026, the cheapest ticket to the season opener of the champion Knicks could cost $1,251. The league, meanwhile, has grown into a global business built on a $76 billion media package, a record-high salary cap and multi-billion dollar franchises. We looked at who wins in the NBA's financial golden age—and ultimately who pays for the increase.
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Eighty years ago, the first game of its NBA predecessor was held in front of 7,090 spectators, but in 2026, the cheapest ticket to the season opener of the champion Knicks could cost $1,251. The league, meanwhile, has grown into a global business built on a $76 billion media package, a record-high salary cap and multi-billion dollar franchises. We looked at who wins in the NBA's financial golden age—and ultimately who pays for the increase.