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How Much Are NBA Tickets?

By: Author Andrew Herig

Posted on Published:

How Much Are NBA Tickets?

How Much Are NBA Tickets?

One of the most exciting and thrilling aspects of being an NBA fan is the opportunity to attend a live NBA game.  While watching an NBA game on your home television can be enjoyable and relaxing, particularly with a side of your favorite food item, nothing truly compares to the thrill and energy you feel while at the stadium.

However, for many of us, the price of an NBA ticket is a major deciding factor when it comes to deciding whether or not to attend an NBA game.   And, unless you are a season ticket holder, certain games may simply be past your comfort level.

That is why, below, we are going to review just how much NBA tickets are for each team.  By looking at each team’s average ticket prices and cost for the 2021-22 NBA season, you’ll be a more informed and smarter shopper and will be able to better determine whether or not attending a live game is financially feasible.

What Affects the Price of NBA Tickets?

When it comes to the price of NBA tickets, not all tickets are priced equally.  Attending a home game for a popular team or one in a large metro area, will typically cost more.  Similarly, attending a game for an extremely competitive team or one that has recently won the NBA Finals, will also cost more.

In addition, if your home team is hosting a popular team or a team with a popular player, then those ticket prices will also be more expensive.  The reason for this is simple economics and supply and demand.  Supply and demand is a theory which helps to explain the relationship between sellers of a resource, in this case the tickets, and the willingness of buyers to purchase and acquire those resources.

And in the case of a popular team or player coming to your home team’s arena, there is typically a higher demand and interest in attending those games by the general public.  As such, ticket prices to those games will typically be more expensive than the average price.

How to Get Cheap NBA Tickets?

Purchasing cheaper NBA tickets is similar to purchasing cheaper MLB ones.  As such, you should look to avoid. Purchasing NBA tickets which are placed on advanced sale. These tickets are typically offered in advance and by the individual NBA team.  And as a way to drum up pent up interest and demand, the tickets are typically higher priced.

Similarly, checking third-party resellers, such as StubHub can be a great way to get cheap NBA tickets.  These tickets are often sold by other fans and will be priced competitively to ensure a successful sale.

Further, waiting until a day or two before the game may help to have the price of the tickets fall and be more accessible.  Again, the reason for this is due to other fans wanting to offload their tickets and their willingness to accept a lower price to part with them.

Further, purchasing tickets during colder months and when the weather is a bit harsher has been seen as a great way to get cheap tickets.  This is because most fans don’t want to travel and leave their houses during those weather conditions and the demand for tickets will fall.

And lastly, avoiding certain games, players, and teams is another great way to purchase cheaper tickets.  As the demand for tickets rises with certain games, teams, and players, simply avoiding attending those games is a great way to save on the cost of the ticket.

Reasons to Attend an NBA Game

While you don’t have to be a diehard fan to attend an NBA game, doing so can enhance the experience and create a deeper connection with the team and the game.  Here are some additional reasons why you may want to attend an NBA game.

  • NBA Games Are Exciting – the excitement and energy at an NBA game is really unmatched.  With throngs of likeminded fans, you are able to enjoy every moment in person and enjoy the euphoria of the crowd when a big play occurs.
  • Basketball is a Great Bonding Experience – whether you are going to the game with family, friends, or loved-ones, the experiences you gain will last a lifetime.  From the drive over to the stadium, to simply finding your seats, to discussing the intricacies of the game, you’ll find yourself bonding with those with you.
  • You’ll Cement a Lifelong Love of the Game in Your Kids – in addition to the bonding experience, taking your kids to the local game will help them to form a lifelong love of both the game and the local team.  If you are a diehard fan, then taking your kids to the game will help them to learn to both appreciate and enjoy the game and the local team.
  • The Food – from hotdogs to pretzels to slices of pizza, basketball stadiums are famous for their assortment of food items and beverages.  And what better way is there to enjoy the game then with some great food.

Price of NBA Tickets by Team

  • Atlanta Hawks – the Atlanta Hawks play at State Farm Arena, located at 1 State Farm Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30303.  On average, 200-level tickets are priced between $15-$22, with 100-level tickets priced around $150, and courtside tickets priced between $500-$1,000.
  • Boston Celtics – the Boston Celtics play at TD Garden, located at 100 Legends Way, Boston, MA, 02114.  On average, upper-level tickets are priced between $50-$75 and lower-level tickets are priced between $150-$200 a ticket.  VIP and courtside tickets are priced between $600-$1,100.
  • Brooklyn Nets – the Brooklyn Nets play at Barclays Center, located at 620 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 11217.   Upper-level tickets are priced between $18-$27 and lower-level tickets are priced between $68-$125 and courtside tickets are priced between $1,330-$2,000.
  • Charlotte Hornets – the Charlotte Hornets play at Spectrum Center at 333 E Trade Street, Charlotte, NC, 28202.  Upper-level tickets range between $6-$12, lower-level tickets range between $73-$197, and courtside tickets are priced at $900+.
  • Chicago Bulls – the Chicago Bulls play at the United Center at 1901 W Madison Street, Chicago, IL, 60612.  Upper-level tickets range from $53-$220. With lower-level tickets ranging from $242-$680.
  • Cleveland Cavaliers – the Cleveland Cavaliers play at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse at 1 Center Court, Cleveland, OH, 44115.  Upper-level tickets range from $10-$12, lower-level tickets range from $57-$223.
  • Dallas Mavericks – the Dallas Mavericks play at American Airlines Center at 2500 Victory Park Lane, Dallas, TX, 75219.  Upper-level tickets range from $18-$187 with lower-level tickets ranging from $132-$310 and courtside tickets starting at $2,000.  
  • Denver Nuggets – the Denver Nuggets play at Ball Arena at 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver, CO, 80204.   Upper-level tickets range from $6-$32, lower-level tickets range from $30-$150 and courtside seats range $300-$1,000.
  • Detroit Pistons – the Detroit Pistons play at Little Caesars Arena at 2645 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI, 48201.  Tickets for upper-level seats range between $17-$34 with lower-level tickets ranging between $72-$157 and courtside seats ranging from $478-$4,077.
  • Golden State Warriors – the Golden State Warriors play at Chase Center at 1 Warriors Way, San Francisco, CA, 94158.  Tickets to the Golden State Warriors are some of the most expensive, with upper-level tickets ranging between $63-$150, lower-level tickets ranging from $325-$1,400 and courtside seats ranging between $2,000-$8,000 per ticket.
  • Houston Rockets –  the Houston Rockets play at the Toyota Center at 1510 Polk Street, Houston, TX, 77002.  Upper-level tickets range from $17-$39 and lower-level tickets range from $145-$225.  Courtside tickets to the Houston Rockets start at $702.
  • Indiana Pacers – the Indiana Pacers play at Gainbridge Fieldhouse at 125 S Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis, IN, 46204.  Upper-level tickets range from $15-$25 with lower-level tickets ranging from $82-$218. 
  • Los Angeles Clippers –  the Los Angeles Clippers play at Crypto.com Arena, formerly Staples Center, at 1111 S Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90015.  Upper-level tickets range from $12-$30 and lower-level tickets range from $193-$700.  Courtside seats start t $1,700.
  • Los Angeles Lakers –  the Los Angeles Lakers also play at Crypto.com Arena, formerly Staples Center, at 1111 S Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90015.  Upper-level tickets range from $55-$93 and lower-level tickets range from $500-$2,500.  Courtside seats start t $5,500 and go up to $18,000.
  •  Memphis Grizzlies – the Memphis Grizzlies play at FedEx Forum at 191 Beale Street, Memphis, TN, 38103.  Upper-level tickets range from $6-$20 with lower-level tickets ranging from $101-$308.  Courtside seats start at $800.
  • Miami Heat – the Miami Heat play at FTX Arena at 601 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL, 33132.  Upper-level tickets range from $37-$120 with lower-level seats ranging from $145-$325.  Courtside seats to a Miami Heat game start at $2,884.
  • Milwaukee Bucks – the Milwaukee Bucks play at Fiserv Forum at 1111 Vel R. Phillips Ave., Milwaukee, WI, 53203.  Upper-level tickets range from $10-$140 and lower-level seats range from $95-$215.  Courtside seats begin at $971.
  • Minnesota Timberwolves – the Minnesota Timberwolves play at the Target Center at 600 N 1st Ave, Minneapolis, MN, 55403.  Upper-level tickets start at $21 and lower-level seats range from $170-$237.   
  • New Orleans Pelicans – the New Orleans Pelicans play at Smoothie King Center at 1501 Dave Dixon Dr., New Orleans, LA, 70113.  Upper-level tickets range from $6-$20 with lower-level tickets ranging from $33-$196.  Courtside seats range from $300-$1,600.
  • New York Knicks – the New York Knicks play at, perhaps, the most famous arena in the world, Madison Square Garden.  Madison Square Garden is located at 4 Pennsylvania. Plaza,  New. York, NY, 10001.  Tickets to Madison Square Garden are typically expensive, ranging from $40-$120 for upper-level seats, $204-$378 for lower-level, and $4,250 for courtside seats.
  • Oklahoma City Thunder – the Oklahoma City Thunder play at Paycom Center at 100 W Reno Ave, Oklahoma City, OK, 73102.  Upper-level tickets range from. $6-$30 with lower-level tickets ranging from $113-$230.  
  • Orlando Magic – the Orlando Magic play at Amway Center at 400 W Church Street, Suite 200, Orlando, FL, 32801.  Upper-level tickets range from $23-$78 with lower-level tickets ranging from $229-$445.
  • Philadelphia 76ers – the Philadelphia 76ers play at Wells Fargo Center at 3601 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19148. Upper-level tickets range from $10-$40 with lower-level ones ranging from $158-$300.  Courtside seats to a Philadelphia 76ers game start at $3,431.
  • Phoenix Suns – the Phoenix Suns play at Footprint Center at 201 East Jefferson Street Phoenix, AZ 85004.  Upper-level tickets range from $85-$150 with lower-level tickets ranging from $31-$1,350.  Courtside tickets to the Phoenix Suns starts at $1,812 and goes as high as $5,607.
  • Portland Trail Blazers – the Portland Trail Blazers play at Moda Center at 1 N Center Ct St, Portland, OR 97227.  Upper-level tickets range from $6-$20 with lower-level ones ranging from $111-$255.  Courtside tickets start at $395 and are some of the most affordable.
  • Sacramento Kings – the Sacramento Kings play at Golden 1 Center at 500 David J Stern Walk, Sacramento, CA 95814.  Upper-level tickets range from $6-$30 with lower-level tickets ranging from $59-$202.   Courtside tickets to the. Sacramento Kings start at $631.
  • San Antonio Spurs – the San Antonio Spurs play at the AT&T Center at 1 AT&T Center Parkway, San Antonio, TX 78219.  Upper-level tickets range from $9-$27 with lower-level tickets ranging from $95-$225.
  • Toronto Raptors – the Toronto Raptors play at Scotiabank Arena at 40 Bay St., Toronto, ON M5J 2X2, Canada and are the only NBA team located in Canada.  As such, prices for Toronto Raptors tickets are in Canadian dollars.  For upper-level seats, prices range from $40-$74 and for lower-level, tickets range from $167-$300.  Courtside seats to a Raptors game begin at $750 and can go up to $2,000.
  • Utah Jazz – the Utah Jazz play at Vivint Arena at 301 S Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84101.  Upper-level seats range from $14-$25 with lower-level seats ranging from $124-$366 and courtside seats ranging from $719-$1,295.
  • Washington Wizards – the Washington Wizards play at Capital One Arena at 601 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004.  Upper-level tickets range from $10-$25 and lower-level tickets range from $111-$377.  Courtside seats range from $1,262-$2,150.