In 2018, Fertita acquired the Rockets for 2.2 billion yuan. How much is it worth selling now?

The 2017-18 season is a season where highlights and twists and turns coexist. Driven by Harden and Paul, the Rockets soared all the way in the regular season, winning 65 wins and 17 losses, and firmly ranked first in the league. On the stage of the Western Conference Finals, they fought seven fierce battles with the Warriors, who were no match for the limelight and were known as the "cosmic courage" at that time, and almost pulled down the "giant ship" that was considered arrogant.

However, after the end of this season, the Rockets' management has undergone earth-shaking changes. Alexander, who was the team's boss at that time, decided to sell the team because he was old and wanted to retire. In the end, Houston local wealthy businessman Fertitta took over at a high price of $2.2 billion, a figure that set a new record for NBA team trading prices at the time and became a landmark event in league history. After taking over the Rockets, Fertita did not choose to be the boss behind the scenes, but actively participated in the team's operations. He vowed to spare no effort to inject resources into the Rockets, helping the team to strive for the championship, and showing great ambitions and determination. After taking office, Fertita made drastic reforms to try to reshape the team's glory. However, things went against my expectations, and the Rockets set out on a downhill road after a brief glory. First, Paul's condition declined due to injury, and then was traded to the Thunder for Westbrook. However, Westbrook's combination with Harden failed to produce the expected chemistry and failed to lead the team further. In the 2020-21 season, Harden chose to leave the Rockets and gathered with Durant and Irving at the Brooklyn Nets. Harden's departure was like taking away the backbone of the Rockets, marking the team's official entry into the reconstruction period.

Although the team's performance and market popularity on the field have declined, the Rockets' market value has not been greatly impacted. On the contrary, its value has continued to rise steadily over time. According to a market value assessment in 2024, the Rockets' market value has soared to $3.91 billion.

By 2025, the Rockets returned to the playoff stage after years of silence, and this positive change further promoted the team's market value growth. According to Forbes, the Rockets' current market value has climbed to about $5 billion. If Fertita chooses to sell the team at this time, the final transaction price may be around $5.5-6 billion.

As a veteran powerhouse in the NBA league, the Rockets have a deep fan base and extensive market influence. Especially in the Chinese market, the Rockets once had extremely high popularity, and its commercial value and brand awareness are deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. In recent years, with the league's continuous expansion in commercial fields such as broadcast rights and sponsorship contracts, the team's revenue sources have become increasingly diversified. After getting Durant, the superstar of the trade this season, the Rockets' commercial value and exposure rate have also risen, and the market value will inevitably rise further in the next few years. In just eight years, the Rockets' market value soared from $2.2 billion to $5 billion. This leap fully confirms Fertitta's accurate and unique business vision and excellent operational talent. He successfully transformed a team with ups and downs in competitive form into a highly valuable business asset, realizing a significant increase in the team's value.