Lakers: Lakers win franchise of the decade by Forbes

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http://www.forbes.com/2009/12/04/bes...ade-teams.html

If sports has become known for anything over the past decade, it’s transience. Players come and go, coaches and general managers are hired and fired like movie extras. It’s all part of the “win now” pressure in the age of sports as big business.The most dominant sports team of the closing decade, the San Antonio Spurs, is an exception. General manager R.C. Buford has been with the club since 1988, working his way from assistant coach to GM by 2002. Head coach Gregg Popovich, Buford’s predecessor as GM, has been manning the bench since 1996, an eternity by modern standards.

In Depth: The Best Teams Of The Decade

Throw in a dash of luck–winning the 1997 NBA draft lottery to land future Hall of Fame big man Tim Duncan–and their consistent approach has resulted in a modern dynasty. After a 1999 NBA championship, San Antonio has gone on to win more than 70% of its games since 2000, while capturing three more les. Financially, the club’s value has grown 146% since then to $415 million, helped along by a move into the lucrative AT&T Center in 2002.

The Spurs’ performance on the court combined with their performance in the revenue column is what has given them the edge over the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings and their in-state NBA rival Dallas Mavericks. The Red Wings have averaged 114 points per season and won two Stanley Cups since 2000 and the Mavs have seen their value more than triple while winning 69% of their games on top of making the playoffs every year.

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