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It’s unsurprising that as of today the most expensive ticket for NBA fans is the season opening matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics. We know Larry Bird isn’t walking through the door, but it’s yet to be determined who’s wearing wine and who’s donning green. Whatever the outcome, attending the October 17th meeting in Cleveland has an average cost of $1,620.
What may be more surprising to some is the NBA’s second priciest ticket. The Dallas Mavericks host the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, April 10th in the regular season finale for both teams. Tickets are going for an average of $1,357.
Why Dallas fans think this is Dirk Nowitzki's last season https://t.co/JZgrX21qEk via @DallasBizNews
— Evan Hoopfer (@DBJHoopfer) August 28, 2017
While the game may provide high drama among a pair of squads that could very possibly be jockeying for NBA Draft Lottery position, that would only warrant a price tag of four digits for the most fervent disciples of #TheTimeline. No, the draw here is Dirk Nowitzki, who may be playing his final NBA game.
Evan Hoopfer of the Dallas Business Journal compared this number with the cost to see a trio of NBA legends. Fans were able to see Tim Duncan’s final regular season home game for $94 in 2016. That Spurs team advanced to the second round of the Western Conference playoffs before they were bounced by the Thunder in six games. Two months later Duncan announced his retirement.
Paul Pierce played his final game in Boston last February as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers. The average ticket cost for that game was $151, up from $102.
Perhaps the closest example was the final game Kobe Bryant played with the Lakers. Fans shelled out an average of $1,072 to see the Los Angeles legend drop the most underwhelming 60 points you’re likely to ever see in a real life NBA game.
There are three questions that I think have to be discussed. What would you pay to see Nowitzki’s final game, how does this hold up as far as late August content, and how much would you pay to see a Suns legend for the final time?
The first Phoenix preseason game is in 36 days. Thanks for hanging in there.