LeBron James’ inaugural season in Los Angeles may have gotten off to a bumpy start, but Lakers tickets are still some of the most sought-after in the league.
According to Ticket Club data, Lakers tickets are costing an average of $220 apiece to catch a game in the first month of the season – the highest of all Western Conference teams (yes, including Golden State). It’s a significant increase from last season, which saw a first-month average of $136, and is undoubtedly attributed to the addition of LeBron James to the roster. Despite their disappointing start and current 4-6 record, the Lakers have certainly felt the “LeBron effect” even before the first tip-off by dethroning the Golden State Warriors as the NBA’s top team to see on the road this season.
LeBron’s former teammates in Cleveland are also reeling from his departure. Average tickets to see a Cavs game before the end of November is a mere $52 – a major dropoff from only four years ago when LeBron’s return to his home state garnered an average ticket price of $178. Cleveland has been on the pricing – and performance – decline ever since, and currently stand dead last in the Eastern Conference at 1-9.
While Lakers tickets are priced highest in this early stretch of the season, our data indicates that it’s the Golden State Warriors who remain the team with the most in-demand tickets looking at the remainder of the season. Steve Kerr’s squad, who are currently first in the Western Conference at 10-1, continue to ride their dominant high of winning rings three of the last four years. Under the leadership of Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green, the Warriors have consistently had some of the most expensive tickets in the league. This season is no different, with average prices in Oakland hovering around $300 apiece.
Lakers tickets are not far behind at an average of $246, though who’s to say that number won’t change as the season wears on. The struggling Cavs have a low overall average ticket price of $58, a figure on par with fellow Eastern Conference teams under .500, particularly the Wizards, Magic and Nets.