The National Basketball Association features some of the world’s finest basketball players.
It consists of thirty professional basketball teams playing in two conferences, the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference.
If you plan on watching the NBA games, you would often google how much are NBA tickets, right?
Read further below as I discuss how much these NBA tickets are sold on average. Check it out!
How Much Does An NBA Ticket Cost In 2023?
All National Basketball Association franchises have different price points for the entire ticket cost.
These prices can change depending on the team’s popularity, performance, and how well they play during the regular season.
However, during the regular season, they tend to hover around $95 to $600. Some of the highest ticket rates are from teams with the biggest stars in them and they are usually at the top of standings.
Teams like the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, and even the New York Knicks have the highest average ticket prices in the league.
Small-market teams such as the New Orleans Pelicans, Sacramento Kings, and Detroit Pistons offer the cheapest tickets in the NBA.
What Are The Factors That Affect NBA Ticket Prices?
In the NBA, there are a few factors that affect the prices of tickets, and if you want to know more about them, I’ve listed them below:
Visiting Team
The prices of NBA tickets depend on the visiting team. Big market teams tend to have a bit pricier tickets because they would often attract huge interest among fans.
For example, prices increased when the Golden State Warriors visited the Los Angeles Lakers on their home turf. It is because there was a marquee matchup with LeBron James and Anthony Davis facing Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green.
On the other hand, if the likes of the Houston Rockets or Orlando Magic visited Staples Center, it would be a different story as they aren’t big revenue draws because of how poor these teams perform during the season.
When a visiting team offers tremendous fan interest, the prices of tickets will increase.
Nobody wants to watch a game where the results are already predictable because there’s a huge disparity in how well these teams perform.
Team Performance
It doesn’t get as much interest as other teams when your favorite team is playing poorly, such as the Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic.
Who would want to see their team get decimated on their home court?
There are many reasons to offer cheap tickets whenever a team plays poorly.
In addition, even though the New York Knicks played poorly last 2022 season at Madison Square Garden, they still ranked among the highest in basketball ticket prices in the entire league.
One of the reasons is because they still attract a lot of interest and fanfare because they are in New York, one of the most popular cities in the country.
The NBA Seating Chart
Here’s a simple guide of the NBA seating chart that I’ve created. Remember, each NBA team has a different seating chart. This guide will give you a general idea of how these charts work.
- Courtside Seats – Nothing beats courtside seats when it comes to watching the game’s very best. You get to experience it up close, and your NBA idols are almost within arms reach in this area. The biggest drawback to courtside seats is that they are the most expensive tickets. An average US wage earner may not afford courtside tickets. While you get to see your basketball stars up close and personal, courtside tickets come with a hefty price.
- Center Court – The center court seats are not bad if you can’t afford courtside seats. Even if you are relatively far, you can still get a good view of the NBA game. Still, it is one of the best views to watch the game live other than courtside seats. This seat gives you get a good view of the entire game without any limitations. It is cheaper, and you get to see almost all plays unfold in your eyes.
- Lower Level Corner – Another great area where NBA basketball fans can sit back, relax, and watch the game is at the lower level corner. It is one of the better seats if you can’t afford courtside seats. These seats are fantastic for fans who don’t want to spend a premium for courtside seats but are still willing to spend a few bucks to be closer to the actual game.
- Behind Basket – Another fantastic section where you can be up close and personal with your NBA idols is behind the basket. However, I am personally not a fan of it, especially when the ball is on the other end. Still, it is a great seat for fans who aren’t willing to spend much money on courtside tickets because it is one of the few sections where basketball players are really close to you, though you won’t find cheap tickets in this section.
Upper-level seats don’t offer the same experience as other seats because of how far you are located in the arena.
Note: If you can only afford upper-level seats, then it is highly recommended that you just watch the game at home.
Prices Of NBA Game Tickets For All NBA Teams
As I’ve mentioned, all 30 NBA teams have different prices for their basketball game tickets.
If you plan on coming to one of these NBA games, here are some ballpark estimates to give you a better idea of NBA ticket prices by team.
Note: These numbers are based on the 2021-2022 NBA season as the NBA ticket prices for 2022-2023 haven’t been posted yet as of the time I wrote this article.
1. Atlanta Hawks
During the 2021-2022 NBA season, Atlanta Hawks ticket prices averaged $219. They are in the middle of the pack in terms of overall prices, and let’s expect ticket prices are going up for the next season.
2. Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics will replicate their historic 2021 Playoffs run into the next season with their superstar duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Watching their games will cost you an average price of $309.
3. Brooklyn Nets
During the 2021-2022 season, the average ticket price for watching their games is $339. One of the highest ticket prices considering they have Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving on their team.
4. Charlotte Hornets
Michael Jordan has been the biggest draw for this team as he has been watching from the sidelines every game. On average, they have ticket prices hovering around $142.
5. Chicago Bulls
With the addition of Demar Derozan, Zach Lavine, and Nikola Vucevic, the Chicago Bulls franchise has a new lease on life since the Michael Jordan era. Watching their games at the United Center costs around $229.
6. Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland might be known for Lebron James, but their young core of Jarrett Allen, Darius Garland, and Collin Sexton sparked some enthusiasm in the Cleveland community; watching their regular season games will cost you around $102.
7. Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas franchise has been making waves recently, with their first Western Conference Finals appearance since Dirk Nowitzki. Despite being a popular team, they have a more affordable ticket price than other teams in the Western Conference at $160.
8. Denver Nuggets
With Jamal Murray coming back from his ACL injury, there’s no stopping this freight train along with their back-to-back NBA’s Most Valuable Player, Nikola Jokic. Their average ticket price if you want to watch their games is around $200.
9. Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons have been plagued with several losing seasons, and this team has no light at the end of the tunnel. Detroit is tied with Cleveland with a $102 average ticket price.
10. Golden State Warriors
The 2022 NBA Champions has been a staple organization for being one of the most expensive teams to watch in the NBA. Watching their games will cost you a whopping $589 on average; that’s quite a hefty amount watching the trio of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson play.
Watch this courtside angle of Steph Curry’s three-pointer that broke Ray Allen’s record.
11. Houston Rockets
Their ticket prices have plummeted in recent years because their team’s overall performance is lackluster; the average ticket price watching their game is around $169.
12. Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers is a small market NBA team doing a decent job regarding the team’s overall performance. Watching their games is also affordable, costing around $141 on average.
13. Los Angeles Clippers
With the dazzling combination of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, watching their games at the Staples Center will cost you around $242, still cheap considering their hometown rivals.
14. Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers franchise has been one of the most expensive teams to watch in the NBA. It’s because they are the top stars in the game today with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. If you want to watch their games, it will cost you $562 on average.
15. Memphis Grizzlies
Their rising star Ja Morant has led this team into one of the best teams in the western conference. Watching their games is cheap, costing you only around $107.
16. Miami Heat
While the Miami Heat lost to Boston in the Eastern Conference Finals, watching Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo wreak havoc on the defensive end at the American Airlines Center will cost you around $219.
17. Milwaukee Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday are still the biggest draws in terms of ticket sales. As a result, watching the Greek Freak play will cost you around $265.
18. Minnesota Timberwolves
Anthony Edwards’s emergence and Karl Anthony Towns made this organization a must-watch team. However, they have the most affordable ticket prices among all of the Western Conference teams; watching their games at the target center costs around $91.
19. New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans, who play at the Smoothie King Center, will cost you around $144. A more affordable price considering Zion Williamson’s high-flying antics.
20. New York Knicks
There’s nothing to cheer about this franchise, and they are known to spend big money on unproven stars. Watching their games at Madison Square Garden is still expensive, with an average ticket price of $394.
21. Oklahoma City Thunder
Ever since Kevin Durant, Russel Westbrook, and James Harden left the Oklahoma City Thunder, everything just went a downward spiral for this organization. Watching their games will cost you around $163.
22. Orlando Magic
Disney World is the only thing great about the city of Orlando; there’s nothing to cheer for this losing franchise. Ever since Dwight Howard left, they piled up losing seasons. As a result, watching their games will cost you $105, one of the cheapest in the leagues.
23. Philadelphia 76ers
Joel Embiid and James Harden made Philly fans cheer again. If you want to see them live in action at Wells Fargo Center, it will cost you $204 on average.
24. Phoenix Suns
With Devin Booker’s ascension to the All-Star ranks and Chris Paul turning back the hands of time, Phoenix Suns have been a force in the Western Conference. Watching their games will cost you around $213.
25. Portland Trail Blazers
Damian Lillard has been the biggest draw of this franchise for a decade now. Despite that, they still offer one of the cheaper tickets in the Western Conference at $127.
26. Sacramento Kings
With the addition of Domantas Sabonis, there’s plenty of optimism for this team which has been a laughing stock for years. If you want to watch their games, it will cost you around $126 on average.
27. San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs have been a stable franchise since Greg Popovich was at the helm. Despite being a small market team, they are among the winningest franchises in NBA history. Watching their games costs around $163.
28. Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors, who play for the National Basketball League representing Canada, have been a pleasant surprise. Watching their games live in action will cost you around $202.
29. Utah Jazz
There are still no clues whether the Utah Jazz will be a big draw this upcoming season as they traded away their three-time Defensive Player of the Year, Rudy Gobert. But if you still want to watch their games, it costs around $157.
30. Washington Wizards
Bradley Beal and the Washington Wizards will try to run it back, but this time, they have Kristaps Porzingis manning the paint. If you want to watch this promising team in the upcoming season, it will cost you around $130.
Why Should You Watch An NBA Game In Person?
There are many reasons why an individual must watch an NBA game live. The reasons are obvious, but I’ll lay them down for you.
The reasons why you should watch an NBA game in person are:
- Fantastic Experience – Nothing beats the experience when seeing it live in action. There’s no better feeling than seeing the game unfold with your own eyes. You also get to watch some of your idols in person and all the nuances they do on the court.
- Appreciate The Game More – Watching NBA games in action will give you a better perspective on how these players play the game of basketball. Whether in the United Center in Chicago or Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, it gives you a good feel of the game.
- Show Support – Attending an NBA game live in action is an amazing way to show your support for your favorite NBA team. Coming to your local NBA arena is also a great way to bond with your family and start a family tradition of watching NBA games.
- Game Atmosphere – Watching the games live than at home is definitely a different experience. Basketball tickets may be a bit pricey but watching it in the arena with almost twenty-thousand fans is unmatched. The atmosphere is electrifying and every shot is like pandemonium with all the cheering fans.
- NBA All-Star Game – Watching the best of the best live in action is a surreal experience. From the Slam Dunk Contest, to the Three Point Shootout, and the NBA All-Star game itself, you can see some of the finest stars of the National Basketball Association up close.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
If you still have any unanswered questions, you may find them on the FAQs I have listed below regarding NBA ticket prices.
What Are The Cheapest NBA Tickets?
The cheapest NBA tickets in the entire league are sold during August when NBA teams release their full regular season schedule. Ticket prices are relatively lower during these times because there’s not much narrative going into the NBA.
It is one of the reasons why most people highly recommend getting your tickets before the season starts. In addition, if you buy a ticket for whole seasons worth of watching, you might be in for a surprise as season tickets come at a lower price per game.
But if you’re asking what teams offer the cheapest tickets, the Cleveland Cavaliers are easily among the most affordable in the NBA. Just remember tickets are subject to change without prior notice.
It is important to check prices online. Expect prices to go up whenever the home team faces a title contender such as the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, and the Dallas Mavericks, as they boast some of the league’s best players.
Why Are NBA Tickets So Expensive?
There are several reasons why NBA tickets are so expensive, from rising professional sports players’ salaries, to the cost of construction of state-of-the-art stadiums, commercials, and just paying the entire workforce for maintaining the gym and their operations.
A lot goes through why NBA tickets are so expensive.
Even if NBA tickets are cheap, these driving costs add up to a ticket’s total price. Parking tickets, concessions, and even promotional souvenirs drive up the cost.
When NBA playoffs start, prices are inevitably going to balloon in just a matter of days. One of the reasons why is because it is the most anticipated time of the year.
It is when the top eight teams of each conference battle it out to make it into the finals. I can assure you that courtside tickets aren’t affordable for an average-paying job.
How Much Does A Ticket To The NBA Finals Cost?
NBA ticket prices vary on what teams are playing in the finals. But to give you a better idea of how much the average price of a finals game ticket is, I will talk about the recently-concluded 2022 NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Boston Celtics.
During the 2022 NBA Finals, NBA tickets can go from $696, the cheapest, down to a whopping $24,716, the highest. Watching the NBA finals isn’t cheap, and you must have a high-paying job to watch one.
In addition, watching the finals from Chase Center to TD Garden is different. In San Francisco, the average ticket price can range from $3,249, according to TicketSmarter.
On the other hand, watching the finals game in Boston will cost you around $2,862 on average. These ticket prices are rather on the higher end of the spectrum if we compare them with previous NBA finals tickets.
If we’re fortunate enough to witness a game 7 between these two teams, expect the average ticket prices to go even higher. It can double or triple in just a matter of days.
Conclusion
Watching an NBA game comes at a cost. However, nothing beats the experience of seeing it up close and personal, especially during the NBA playoffs.
Always remember that these basketball players are among the finest athletes on the planet. Witnessing them play within arms reach is often a bucket list for almost all basketball fans worldwide.
Shocked at how much the NBA ticket prices are? So do I!
I really hope that my article has helped you in some ways. Now, go grab that ticket and have an unforgettable experience of your lifetime!