soo... how do you explain the success of the mavericks and spurs? both are "middle market" teams. or the rise of the thunder? teams are proven you can build an NBA winner with a good owner and management, the bigger market teams can just do it easier.
Market is a relative term. If we're talking markets in the sense of metro-areas/regions, then here are the biggest cities in the US in terms of population. That being said, it's tough because Milwaukee/Chicago, in my mind is technically as similar of a market as Fresno/Long Beach/Bakersfield and LA OR Newark and NYC-Metro, but who's counting?
2 mil +:
New York (Knicks/Nets) 8.2 mil
Toronto (Raptors) 5.5 mil
LA (Lakers/Clippers) 3.8 mil
Chicago (Bulls) 2.7 mil
Houston (Rockets) 2.1 mil
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1 mil - 2 mil:
Dallas-Fort Worth (Mavericks) 1.9 mil
Philadelphia (76ers) 1.5 mil
Phoenix (Suns) 1.5 mil
San Antonio (Spurs) 1.3 mil
SF/Oakland (Warriors) 1.2 mil
So, if you're defining a big market by access to at least 1 million people, then 12 of 30 (40%) of NBA teams are big market.
Here are the cities between 500k-1 mil:
Indianapolis (Pacers) 821k
Charlotte (Bobcats) 730k
Detroit (Pistons) 713k
Minny/SP (Wolves) 670k
Memphis (Grizzlies) 647k
Boston (Celtics) 617k (though this a HUGE regional market)
Washingon (Wizards) 602k
Denver (Nuggets) 600k
Milwaukee (Bucks) 594k
Portland (Blazers) 584k
Oklahoma City (Thunder) 580k
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So, 23 of 30 (77%) NBA teams are in markets about 500k, with big regional markets. I don't think anybody believes that, with the exception of possibly OKC, these are small markets.
The 23% that aren't?
Sacramento (Kings) 467k
Atlanta (Hawks) 420k
Miami (Heat) 400k (ironic, huh.)
Cleveland (Cavs) 397k
New Orleans (Hornets) 344k
Orlando (Magic)* 238k
Salt Lake City (Jazz)* 186k (though, Utah -pop. 2.7 mil- is the market)
So, when we speak about teams like the Spurs vs. Heat being small market, for instance, you have to wonder what exactly that means...
*Winston-Salem's pop. is 229k