Do Fans Think This Is LeBron’s Last Game at Madison Square Garden? Ticket Prices Haven’t Spiked This High Since Kobe

Ticket prices don’t spike like this by accident.

For the Knicks–Lakers game on February 1 at Madison Square Garden, average listed ticket prices have surged to $900, making it the most expensive regular season NBA game since Kobe Bryant’s final game on April 13, 2016, which averaged $1,049 per ticket sold.

That puts this matchup in rare company, and it’s happening without any official announcement or farewell tour.

The surge appears to be driven by one looming question fans are answering with their wallets:

Could this be LeBron James’ last game at Madison Square Garden?

Before March 2020, Kobe Bryant was responsible for all three of the highest-priced regular season NBA games:

• April 13, 2016 – Kobe’s final NBA game ($1,049 average sold price)

• January 31, 2020 – the Lakers’ first game after Kobe’s passing ($721 average sold price)

• December 18, 2017 – Kobe’s jersey retirement game ($622 average sold price)

Outside of those moments, no regular season NBA game had reached similar price territory — until now.

LeBron’s potential final appearance at the NBA’s most iconic arena has pushed Knicks–Lakers into the same historical price range as Kobe’s most meaningful career moments, making it the most expensive regular season game in nearly a decade.

Fans may not know for certain if this is LeBron’s last game at MSG. But the ticket market is clear:

When history might happen, prices move first.

And for Knicks–Lakers on February 1, they’ve already arrived.