The Houston Rockets have struggled on the court in the last three seasons, finishing with one of the NBA’s worst two records in each. However, their earnings away from the game have been world class.
According to Mike Ozanian from Forbes, the Rockets rank No. 23 in the world in recent sports franchise profits, having banked $240 million over the past three years. The financial list is determined by operating income, which Forbes defines for its study as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization.
The 2020s-era list compares teams from the NBA, National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Hockey League (NHL), and soccer franchises from various global leagues.
That No. 23 placement puts the Rockets — owned by Tilman Fertitta, who bought the team in 2017 — between the No. 24 Philadelphia Eagles and No. 22 Pittsburgh Steelers. The Texans, who also play in Houston, finished at No. 6 overall and third among NFL teams.
Houston is seventh among NBA teams, trailing only the New York Knicks (No. 4, $623 million), Golden State Warriors (No. 7, $348 million), Los Angeles Lakers (No. 8, $333 million), Chicago Bulls (No. 14, $288 million), and Boston Celtics (No. 18, $269 million).
The complete list can be viewed here.
