Marquee Sponsors for NBA

NBA 2020/21 commercial guide: Every team, the marquee sponsors and all the major TV deals

After a rapid turnaround from the LA Lakers' title victory in October, the NBA is back and so is SportsPro's annual commercial preview, bringing you all the major off-court developments ahead of the new season.

• By SportsPro

• Posted: December 21 2020

86 days after the Los Angeles Lakers claimed their first league title for a decade, the National Basketball Association (NBA) stands ready to do it all over again.

A truncated 72-game regular season awaits the league’s 30 teams after franchise owners and the players’ union finally found common ground during lengthy collective bargaining negotiations last month. While much remains up in the air due to the fluidity of the Covid-19 crisis, what is known is that games will not be played in the safety of a bubble, with teams traveling across the US once again in a move that will elicit further scrutiny of the league’s health and safety protocols.

Still, the 22nd December start date means the NBA’s traditional Christmas games will go ahead, thereby satisfying the league and its broadcast partners. The coming season should also conclude before the start of next summer’s Tokyo Olympics, ensuring the stars of the NBA will be able to compete at the rescheduled Games.

For the LeBron James-led Lakers and last year’s finalists Miami Heat, this offseason will go down as the shortest in NBA history; for the eight teams that did not feature in the Orlando bubble at Walt Disney World in Florida, it will have felt like an eternity, with none of those franchises having set foot on court for a competitive match-up since the league suspended all activities on 11th March.

That the NBA was able to conclude last season at all was a formidable achievement in light of current circumstances, but there will be no simple remedy for the severe headache Covid-19 has created for a league that has become so accustomed to growth and prosperity.

According to ESPN, league-wide revenues fell by ten per cent to US$8.3 billion last season, with losses related to ticketing alone reaching US$800 million. Lost income from sponsorship and merchandise sales totalled US$400 million, even if the league was able to recover an estimated US$1.5 billion by staging the Orlando bubble.

In recognition of those losses and the likely prospect of further disruption to come, the NBA handed US$30 million to each of its teams earlier this month having already raised the league-wide borrowing allowance from US$650 million to US$1.2 billion when the pandemic struck in March. It has also moved to permit its franchises to sell new sponsorship inventory, including practice jersey branding, and ease restrictions on deals with hard alcohol, casino and sports betting companies.

While preseason games have taken place until now before mostly empty arenas, some teams will welcome a small number of fans this season and are cautiously optimistic that crowd sizes will grow incrementally over the coming months. Commissioner Adam Silver has held talks with various parties over introducing a policy to manage widespread use of Covid-19 vaccines, but the league will need to navigate what is a complex ethical, political and health and safety issue carefully if it is to avoid any major mishaps.

Dozens of NBA players have returned positive tests throughout the off-season, and there is a strong likelihood that games will be postponed when the regular season schedule gets underway. Indeed, with Covid-19 cases skyrocketing across the US, basketball’s preeminent league has its work cut out to complete what will be (yet another) season like no other.

Teams

Eastern Conference

Atlanta Hawks

Principal owner: Tony Ressler

Chief executive: Steve Koonin

Value: US$1.52 billion

Total social media following: 4.4 million

Home venue: State Farm Arena (16,600)

Arena naming rights deal: US$8.75 million a year, deal signed 2018, expires 2038

Jersey patch sponsor: Sharecare (worth between US$2.5 million and US$10 million a year, signed 2017, expires 2022)

Local broadcasters: Fox Sports South (TV), WZGC (radio)

Boston Celtics

Principal owner and chief executive: Wyc Grousbeck

Value: US$3.1 billion

Total social media following: 4.4 million

Home venue: TD Garden (18,624)

Arena naming rights deal: US$6 million a year but owned by Delaware North. Deal signed in 2005, expires 2025

Jersey patch sponsor: Vistaprint (signed 2020, multi-year deal)

Local broadcasters: NBC Sports Boston (TV), WBZ-FM (radio)

Brooklyn Nets

Owner: Joe Tsai

Chief executive: John Abbamondi

Value: US$2.5 billion

Total social media following: 6.3 million

Home venue: Barclays Center (17,732)

Arena naming rights deal: US$10 million a year, signed 2012, expires 2032

Jersey patch sponsor: Motorola (signed 2020, expiry unreported)

Local broadcasters: YES Network (cable TV), WPIX (FTA TV), WFAN (radio)

Kevin Durant is set to play his first season for the Brooklyn Nets after a year on the sidelines

Charlotte Hornets

Principal owner: Michael Jordan

Vice chairman: Curtis Polk

Value: US$1.5 billion

Total social media following: 4.1 million

Home venue: Spectrum Center (19,077)

Arena naming rights deal: More than US$5 million a year, deal signed 2008, expires 2028.

Jersey patch sponsor: LendingTree (worth US$5 million a year, extension signed 2020, expires 2023)

Local broadcasters: Fox Sports Carolinas, Fox Sports Southeast (TV), WFNZ (radio)

Chicago Bulls

Principal owner and chairman: Jerry Reinsdorf

Value: US$3.2 billion

Total social media following: 27.5 million

Home venue: United Center (20,917)

Arena naming rights deal: More than US$5 million a year, deal signed 2013, expires 2034

Jersey patch sponsor: Zenni Optical (value unreported, signed 2018, expires 2023)

Local broadcasters: NBC Sports Chicago (TV), WFNZ (radio)

Cleveland Cavaliers

Principal owner: Dan Gilbert

Chief executive: Len Komoroski

Value: US$1.51 billion

Total social media following: 20.1 million

Home venue: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (19,432)

Arena naming rights deal: Partnership with owner’s company and secured as part of 2005 acquisition and estimated at around US$3 million a year. The deal was extended in 2018 with the venue switching from the Quicken Loans Arena to its new title from this season.

Jersey patch sponsor: Goodyear (more than US$10 million a year, signed 2017, extended 2020, expiry unreported)

Local broadcasters: Fox Sports Ohio (TV), WTAM, WMMS (radio).

Detroit Pistons

Principal owner: Tom Gores

Vice chairman: Arn Tellem

Value: US$1.45 billion

Total social media following: 4.3 million

Home venue: Little Caesars Arena (20,491)

Arena naming rights deal: More than US$6.25 million a year, deal signed 2017, expires 2037. Venue managed by 313 Presents, a joint venture between Palace Sports and Entertainment, the owner of the Pistons, and Olympia Entertainment, the parent company of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Detroit Red Wings.

Jersey patch sponsor: Flagstar Bank (between US$5 million and US$10 million a year, signed 2017, expiry unreported)

Local broadcasters: Fox Sports Detroit (TV), WXYT (radio)

Indiana Pacers

Principal owner and chief executive: Herbert Simon

Value: US$1.52 billion

Total social media following: 6.4 million

Home venue: Bankers Life Fieldhouse (17,923)

Arena naming rights deal: US$2 million a year, expired in July 2019, but name retained until new deal is found

Jersey patch sponsor: Motorola (between US$8 million and US$10 million a year, signed 2018, expiry unreported)

Local broadcasters: Fox Sports Indiana (TV), WFNI (radio)

Miami Heat

Owner: Micky Arison

Chief executive: Nick Arison

Value: US$1.95 billion

Total social media following: 24.5 million

Home venue: American Airlines Arena (19,600)

Arena naming rights deal: Miami-Dade County paying the heat US$2 million a year after failing to find a new sponsor for the venue when American Airlines' contract expired in 2019.

Jersey patch sponsor: Ultimate Kronos Group (value unreported, signed 2017, amended 2020 after Ultimate Software and Kronos Group merged, expiry unreported)

Local broadcasters: Fox Sports Sun (TV), WAXY (radio)

Milwaukee Bucks

Owners: Wes Edens and Marc Lasry

President: Peter Feigin

Value: US$1.58 billion

Total social media following: 6.6 million

Home venue: Fiserv Forum (17,300)

Arena naming rights deal: US$6 million a year from 2018, expires 2043

Jersey patch sponsor: n/a (deal with Harley-Davidson expired at end of 2019/20 season)

Local broadcasters: Fox Sports Wisconsin (TV), WTMJ (radio)

Two-time reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has signed a long-term contract to stay with the Milwaukee Bucks

New York Knicks

Owner: James Dolan

President: Steve Mills

Value: US$4.6 billion

Total social media following: 10.6 million

Home venue: Madison Square Garden (19,800)

Arena naming rights deal: n/a

Jersey patch sponsor: Squarespace (US$12 million to US$14 million a year, signed 2017, expiry unreported)

Local broadcasters: MSG Network (TV), 98.7 ESPN New York (radio)

Orlando Magic

Owner: RDV Sports Inc

President: Alex Martins

Value: US$1.430 billion

Social media following: 5.5 million

Home venue: Amway Center (18,800)

Arena naming rights deal: US$4 million a year from 2010, expires 2020

Jersey patch sponsor: Walt Disney World Resort (value unreported, first signed 2017, extended 2020, expiry unreported)

Local broadcasters: Fox Sports Florida (cable), WYGM (radio), WNUE-FM (Spanish radio)

Philadelphia 76ers

Owner: Joshua Harris and David Blitzer

Chief executive: Scott O’Neil

Value: US$2 billion

Social media following: 6.3 million

Home venue: Wells Fargo Center

Arena naming rights deal: US$1.38 million a year, signed 1994, expires 2023

Jersey patch sponsor: StubHub (worth US$5 million a year when first activated 2017, extension signed 2020, expiry unreported)

Local broadcasters: NBC Sports Philadelphia (cable), WPEN (radio)

Toronto Raptors

Owner: Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment

President and chief executive: Richard Peddie

Value: US$2.1 billion

Total social media following: 8.4 million

Home venue: Scotiabank Arena (19,800)

Arena naming rights deal: CAD$40 million (US$30 million) a year, signed 2018, expires 2038. Venue owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment and shared with Toronto Maple Leafs

Jersey patch sponsor: Sun Life Financial (‘More than CAD$5 million a year’, signed 2017, expiry unreported)

Local broadcasters: TSN and Sportsnet (cable), CHUM and CJCL (radio)

Washington Wizards

Owner: Monumental Sports & Entertainment

Managing partner: Ted Leonsis

Value: US$1.750 billion

Total social media following: 7.3 million

Home venue: Capital One Arena (20,600)

Arena naming rights deal: US$10 million a year, signed 2018, expires 2028

Jersey patch sponsor: Geico (value unreported, signed 2018, expiry unreported)

Local broadcasters: NBC Sports Washington (cable), WFED (radio)

Western Conference

Dallas Mavericks

Owner: Mark Cuban

Chief executive: Cynthia Marshall

Value: US$2.4 billion

Total social media following: 8.4 million

Home venue: American Airlines Center (19,200)

Arena naming rights deal: US$6.5 million a year, signed 1999, expires 2030

Jersey patch sponsor: Chime (US$9.5 million to US$10 million a year, signed 2020, expires 2023)

Local broadcasters: Fox Sports Southwest (cable TV), ESPN 103.3 FM (radio)

Denver Nuggets

Owner: Ann Walton Kroenke (Kroenke Sports & Entertainment)

President and governor: Josh Kroenke

Value: US$1.6 billion

Total social media following: 4.5 million

Home venue: Ball Arena (19,520)

Arena naming rights deal: US$6 million a year, signed 2020, expiry unreported

Jersey patch sponsor: Western Union (value unreported, extension signed 2020, expires 2023)

Local broadcasters: Altitude Sports (TV and radio)

Golden State Warriors

Owner: Joe Lacob (majority)

Executive director: Eric Bresler

Value: US$4.3 billion

Total social media following: 35 million

Home venue: Chase Center (18,000)

Arena naming rights deal: US$15 million a year, signed 2019, expires 2039

Jersey patch sponsor: Rakuten (US$20 million a year, signed 2017, extended 2020, expiry unreported)

Local broadcasters: NBCS (TV), 95.7 The Game (radio)

Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors have retooled in the offseason

Houston Rockets

Owner: Tilman Fertitta

Chief executive: Tad Brown

Value: US$2.475 billion

Total social media following: 23.6 million

Home venue: Toyota Center (18,000)

Arena naming rights deal: US$4.75 million a year, signed 2003, expires 2023

Jersey patch sponsor: n/a (Deal with Rokit Phones expired at end of 2019/2020 season)

Local broadcasters: AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (TV), SportsTalk 790 AM (radio)

Los Angeles Clippers

Owner: Steve Ballmer

President: Lawrence Frank

Value: US$2.6 billion

Total social media following: 8.9 million

Home venue: Staples Center (19,000)

Arena naming rights deal: US$5.8 million per season, ‘lifetime’ deal signed in 2009 by venue owner AEG

Jersey patch sponsor: Honey (value unreported, expansion signed 2020, expiry unreported)

Local broadcasters: Fox Sports West and Prime Ticket (TV)

Los Angeles Lakers

Owner: Buss Family Trusts (majority)

Controlling owner and president: Jeanie Buss

Value: US$4.4 billion

Total social media following: 47.4 million

Home venue: Staples Center (19,000)

Arena naming rights deal: US$5.8 million per season, ‘lifetime’ deal signed in 2009 by venue owner AEG

Jersey patch sponsor: Wish (US$12 million to US$14 million a year, signed 2017, expiry unreported)

Local broadcasters: Spectrum Sportsnet (TV), KSPN 710 AM (radio)

Anthony Davis is committed long-term to the LA Lakers as they defend their NBA title

Memphis Grizzlies

Owner: Robert Pera

President: Jason Wexler

Value: US$1.3 billion

Total social media following: 4 million

Home venue: FedExForum (18,100)

Arena naming rights deal: US$4.09 million per season, signed 2002, expires 2024

Jersey patch sponsor: FedEx (value unreported, signed 2018, expiry unreported)

Local broadcasters: Fox Sports Southwest (TV), WMFS-FM (radio)

Minnesota Timberwolves

Owner: Glen Taylor

Chief executive: Ethan Casson

Value: US$1.375 billion

Total social media following: 4.9 million

Home venue: Target Center (18,700)

Arena naming rights deal: Value unreported, first signed 1990, extended in 2005, 2011 and 2015. Original contract worth US$1.5 million per season

Jersey patch sponsor: n/a (Deal with Fitbit expired at end of 2019/20 season)

Local broadcasters: Fox Sports North (TV) WCCO-AM 830 (radio)

New Orleans Pelicans

Owner: Gayle Benson

President: Dennis Lauscha

Value: US$1.35 billion

Total social media following: 5.1 million

Home venue: Smoothie King Center (16,867)

Arena naming rights deal: US$4 million a year, signed 2014, expires 2024

Jersey patch sponsor: Ibotta (value unreported, signed 2020, expiry unreported)

Local broadcasters: Fox Sports New Orleans (TV), News Talk 99.5FM (radio).

Oklahoma City Thunder

Owner: Professional Basketball Club (Clay Bennett, chairman)

Chief administrative officer: Danny Barth

Value: US$1.575 billion

Total social media following: 14.4 million

Home venue: Chesapeake Energy Arena (18,203)

Arena naming rights deal: US$3 million a year, subject to 3% annual increase, signed 2011, expires 2023

Jersey patch sponsor: Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores (US$10 million a year, signed 2019, expires 2023)

Local broadcasters: Fox Sports Oklahoma (TV), WWLS-The Sports Animal (radio), ESPN Radio Oklahoma City (radio), 930AM (Spanish radio)

Phoenix Suns

Owner: Robert Sarver

Chief executive: Jason Rowley

Value: US$1.625 billion

Total social media following: 4.7 million

Home venue: PHX Arena (18,422)

Arena naming rights deal: n/a (Talking Stick Resort contract expired November 2020)

Jersey patch sponsor: PayPal (value unreported, signed 2018, expiry unreported)

Local broadcasters: Fox Sports Arizona (TV), Arizona Sports (radio)

Portland Trail Blazers

Owner: Jody Allen

Chief executive: Chris McGowan

Value: US$1.850 billion

Total social media following: 5.9 million

Home venue: Moda Center (19,000)

Arena naming rights deal: US$4 million a year, signed 2013, expires 2023

Jersey patch sponsor: Biofreeze (value unreported, signed 2018, expiry unreported)

Local broadcasters: NBC Sports Northwest (TV), Rip City Radio 620 (radio)

Sacramento Kings

Owner and chief executive: Vivek Ranadivé

Value: US$1.775 billion

Total social media following: 10.4 million

Home venue: Golden 1 Center (17,500)

Arena naming rights deal: US$6 million a year, signed 2015, expires 2035

Jersey patch sponsor: n/a

Local broadcasters: NBC Sports California (TV), KHTK Sports Sacramento (radio)

San Antonio Spurs

Owner: Spurs Sports & Entertainment

Chief executive: Robert Canterbury Buford

Value: US$1.8 billion

Total social media following: 13.6 million

Home venue: AT&T Center (18,418)

Arena naming rights deal: US$2.05 million a year, signed 2002, expires 2022

Jersey patch sponsor: Frost Bank (value unreported, first signed 2018, expiry unreported)

Local broadcasters: Fox Sports Southwest (TV), Spurs Radio (radio)

Utah Jazz

Owner: Ryan Smith

Advisor: Steve Starks (Larry H. Miller Group)

Value: US$1.550 billion

Total social media following: 3.9 million

Home venue: Vivint Smart Home Arena (19,900)

Arena naming rights deal: Value unreported, signed 2016, expires 2026

Jersey patch sponsor: Qualtrics (US$4 million a year, first signed 2017, expires 2023)

Local broadcasters: AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (TV), The Zone Sports Network (radio)

Major broadcast partners

North America

US: ESPN, ABC, Turner Sports, NBA League Pass, NBA TV, ESPN Radio

Canada: TSN, RDS, Sportsnet, NBA TV Canada

Mexico: ESPN, NBA TV International, TDN

Caribbean/Central America

Caribbean: ESPN, SportsMax, NBA TV International

Costa Rica: ESPN, NBA TV International

Dominican Republic: ESPN, CDN SportsMax, NBA TV International

El Salvador: ESPN, NBA TV International

Guatemala: ESPN, NBA TV International

Honduras: ESPN, NBA TV International

Nicaragua: ESPN, TN8

Panama: ESPN, Cable Ona Sports, NBA TV International

Puerto Rico: ABC, ESPN, WAPA 2 Deportes, Turner Sports, NBA TV

South America

Argentina: ESPN, DirecTV, NBA TV International

Bolivia: ESPN

Brazil: ESPN, SporTV, Vivo TV, Bandeirantes

Chile: ESPN, DirecTV

Colombia: ESPN, DirecTV

Ecuador: ESPN, DirecTV

Guyana: ESPN, SportsMax, NBA TV International

Paraguay: ESPN

Peru: ESPN, DirecTV

Suriname: ESPN, SportsMax, SCCN, NBA TV International

Uruguay: ESPN, DirecTV, NBA TV International

Venezuela: ESPN, DirecTV

Europe

Austria: DAZN, Sport1, Spox.com

Balkans: Arena Sport, Telekom Srbija (Serbia only)

Baltics: All Media

Belgium: Eleven Sports

Croatia: Arena Sport

Czech Republic: Nova Sport

Denmark: TV 2 Sport

Finland: Nelonen Pro 1

France: BeIN Sports

Germany: DAZN, Sport1, NBA TV International, Spox.com

Greece: Cosmote Sport

Iceland: Stöð 2 Sport

Ireland: Sky Sports

Italy: Sky Sports

Netherlands: Ziggo Sport

Poland: Canal+ Sport

Portugal: Sport TV, NBA TV International

Romania: Telekom Sport

Russia: Viasat Sport East

Spain: Movistar+

Sweden: Sportkanalen

Switzerland: DAZN, Sport1, Spox.com

Turkey: S Sport, NBA TV International

Ukraine: Setanta Sports, Viasat Sport East

UK: Sky Sports

Middle East and North Africa

Israel: Sport 5

MENA: BeIN Sports

Sub-Saharan Africa

Excluding South Africa: CanalSat Afrique, Kwesé Sports, NBA TV International

South Africa: Kwesé Sports, E.tv

Asia-Pacific

Central Asia: Setanta Sports, Viasat Sport East

Indian subcontinent: FanCode

China: CCTV, Tencent

Hong Kong: Sports 2 World, ViuTV, Migu, NBA TV International

Indonesia: Champions TV, O Channel, Vidio.com, UseeTV

Japan: NBA Rakuten

Malaysia: Astro SuperSport

Singapore: StarHub

South Korea: SPOTV

Philippines: TV5, ONE Sports, NBA TV Philippines

Taiwan: Videoland, Elta TV, Eleven Sports

Cambodia: NBA League Pass

Laos: NBA League Pass

Thailand: TrueVisions, TrueID

Vietnam: VTVcab, Courtiside.VN

Oceania

Australia: ESPN, SBS Viceland, Tabcorp

New Zealand: ESPN, Spark Sport

Pacific Islands: ESPN

Papua New Guinea: ESPN