Lakers’ value hits $1 billion but trails Knicks, Forbes.com says

Forbes.com released its annual valuations of NBA teams Wednesday, listing the Lakers as the second-most valuable franchise, knocked from the No. 1 spot by the New York Knicks. According to the report, the Lakers are worth an even $1 billion, up 11% from last year.

The Knicks are valued by Forbes at $1.1 billion. The Chicago Bulls are third at $800 million.

Forbes lists the Lakers’ annual revenue at $197 million with operating income of $47.8 million a year. Those numbers are also second in the league, trailing the Knicks with $243 million in revenue and $83.2 million in operating income.

The Lakers are carrying debt equal to 11% of the team’s total value, the seventh-lowest debt-to-value ratio in the league. The Clippers, Utah Jazz and Knicks are the only franchises with no debt.

The Lakers should see a revenue surge in 2013 after a full year with Time Warner Cable, according to Forbes. The team’s valuation spiked a league-leading 40% last year on the television deal, but its percentage increase in value this year was the second-lowest in the NBA.

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Email Eric Pincus at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.