The Cleveland Cavaliers top the list of the highest-paid sports teams in the world

Alex Gallardo/AP

The Cleveland Cavaliers are the new highest-paid sports team in the world, with players making an average of $8.7 million during the 2016-17 season.

This is according to the annual "Global Sports Salaries Survey," published by Sporting Intelligence. The study looks at the first-team pay for 333 teams across seven different sports in 17 different leagues around the world.

Thanks to smaller rosters and television revenue that is skyrocketing, NBA teams shot up the list this year. Of the 25 highest-paid teams in the world, 18 are from the NBA. 

Last year's highest-paid team, Paris Saint-Germain in France's Ligue 1, fell to No. 35 this year. In other major North American sports leagues, the New York Yankees (No. 2 overall) are the highest-paid Major League Baseball team, the Green Bay Packers (No. 99 overall) is the highest-paid NFL team, and Los Angeles Kings (No. 67 overall) are the highest-paid NHL team.

Here are the 20 highest-paid teams in the world.

 

20. Golden State Warriors — $6.66 million (average pay per player)

Ben Margot/AP

Sport: Basketball

League: National Basketball Association

Highest-paid player: Kevin Durant ($26.5 million)

2015 rank and average pay: 25 ($4.89 million)

19. Real Madrid — $6.67 million (average pay per player)

Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Sport: Soccer

League: La Liga

Highest-paid player: Gareth Bale ($24.9 million)

2015 rank and average pay: 2 ($8.64 million)

18. Miami Heat — $6.72 million (average pay per player)

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Sport: Basketball

League: National Basketball Association

Highest-paid player: Chris Bosh ($23.7 million)

2015 rank and average pay: 28 ($4.83 million)

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