Report: NBA revenue to surpass $8 billion in upcoming season

Don't be shocked by the exorbitant NBA contracts that were handed out this summer - it's just a drop in the bucket.

The league is reaching new heights in terms of popularity, and along with the added attention comes added cash.

Buoyed by a rich, new national TV deal, revenues are skyrocketing. ESPN's Darren Rovell reports the NBA is projected to hit $8 billion for the 2016-17 season.

To put that into perspective, 2014-15 estimations from Forbes.com pegged NBA revenue at $5.2 billion. If the league hits its latest projection, that would represent a 54-percent increase in revenue, in just two seasons.

Reaching $8 billion would push the NBA closer to Major League Baseball for second in sporting revenue. Figures from 2015 for the top-five leagues in the world are listed below.

(source: Wikipedia)

The overwhelmingly positive financial health of the NBA should help lessen the possibility of a lockout when new CBA negotiations likely begins in 2017. But then again, with the pie bigger than ever, perhaps owners and the NBPA will clamor harder for a larger slice.