Nikola Jokić’s Return Sends Nuggets Ticket Prices Skyrocketing
- NBA
by Gametime
This article was originally published on and was updated on .
The early signal is clear: demand follows Nikola Jokić.
Ticket prices for Friday night's Denver Nuggets-Los Angeles Clippers game spiked sharply following confirmation that three-time MVP Nikola Jokić will return from injury, according to Gametime marketplace data.
Immediately following the announcement, average ticket prices briefly spiked from roughly $70 to as high as $231 before settling into a sustained increase of about 78%. Median prices are up 77% as well, a surge that contradicts typical secondary market trends where prices generally stabilize or decline as tipoff approaches.
The timing amplifies the significance of the price movement. With the announcement coming just hours before Friday's 7:30 p.m. MT tipoff, the spike demonstrates the immediate market impact of a star player's availability.
Jokić has been sidelined since December 29 with a knee injury, missing 16 consecutive games. His return carries particular weight as Denver battles for playoff positioning in the Western Conference. The timing also restores Jokić's eligibility for end-of-season awards, which require players to appear in at least 65 games.
The pricing data underscores Jokić's drawing power and provides a real-time case study in how star availability drives ticket price.
