Latest ranking proves Golden State Warriors ownership is unparalleled
A commitment to winning has underpinned Joe Lacob and Peter Guber’s tenure as owners of the Golden State Warriors over the last decade.
Nearing their 13th anniversary as owners of the franchise, Lacob and Guber have reinvented the Warriors from success-starved organization to one of the NBA’s modern-day powerhouses.
The Golden State Warriors stature as a taxpaying NBA team proves ownership of the franchise is unparalleled among the league.
Like most good businessmen, Lacob and Guber have re-invested their money in the franchise to ensure success has sustained since Golden State broke their championship drought in 2015. That’s proven true in their willingness to dive head-first into the NBA’s luxury tax over recent seasons.
Ranking teams by their all-time luxury tax payments, HoopsHype’s Yossi Gozlan points out that the Warriors sit atop the list with more than half a billion dollars in total penalties.
"“In just the last two years they spent $334 million due to the punitive repeater tax system. They are set to break their previous record for the highest single-season tax penalty this year with the first one projected to exceed $200 million”, Gozlan wrote."
The Warriors have nearly $200,000 more in penalties than the second-placed Brooklyn Nets ($310,000), while only four other teams — the Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks — are in excess of $180,000.
Quite incredibly, Golden State actually has less seasons in the luxury tax than the rest of the top seven. The Lakers have the most tax paying seasons at 12, while the Charlotte Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans are the only two NBA teams yet to have a season over the threshold.
When looking at the drastic increase in value, it’s no surprise why ownership is willing to spend. Lacob and Guber purchased the team for $450 million in 2010, with Forbes estimating the franchise is now worth $7 billion as of October 2022.
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Golden State now face tougher measures with the NBA’s newest second-tax apron, placing greater restrictions on their asset management and flexibility. With the expiring contracts of Klay Thompson and Chris Paul, the Warriors may look to duck under the second apron next offseason.