Tickets for this game are quite pricey, and it’s easy to see why. It could be a momentous occasion.
The Knicks are on a winning streak, having won five games in a row, and they’ll face off against the Lakers this Sunday at Madison Square Garden. This game might also mark the last appearance of LeBron James in the arena.
LeBron is set to enter free agency after this season. However, he has not yet made a decision about whether he’ll continue playing, stay with the Lakers, or sign elsewhere.
According to TickPick, the average ticket price on the secondary market has soared to $912, making this the most expensive NBA game since Kobe Bryant’s last game in 2016. The least expensive ticket is priced at $455.
Two players for the Knicks have had their own experiences with LeBron. Josh Hart spent a season playing alongside him with the Lakers, and Mike Brown was his coach for five seasons during LeBron’s first stint with the Cavaliers.
“It was awesome,” Hart commented. “I’ve learned a lot about basketball and also how to keep my body fit for an 82-plus game season. That’s important, especially if this is his last game at MSG. It’s a big career moment. I just hope he doesn’t do something wild in front of our fans.”
Hart has a request for the crowd on Sunday.
“Definitely,” he said. “They should give him a huge ovation.”
Brown and LeBron reached the NBA Finals together during the 2006-07 season but were swept by the Spurs. After that, they struggled to make it back to the Finals, losing to the Celtics and the Magic in successive playoff runs. Brown parted ways with the team after the 2009-10 season.
He also had a brief stint as the Lakers’ head coach, being let go just five games into his second season.
“Regardless of what happens, he’s an incredible talent and one of the smartest players I’ve ever met,” Brown remarked. “He’s top-notch. He’s done so much for the community and the NBA as a whole.”
At 41 years old and in his 23rd season, LeBron has always had a special connection to Madison Square Garden, often referring to it as his “favorite playground.” He’s played 32 games there, recording 24 wins and 9 losses.
His time at MSG includes memorable moments like a 50-point game in 2008, a triple-double in 2010, a 52-point showing in 2009, and another triple-double in 2023.
“I can’t say this feels like any normal road game,” LeBron said early on. “This is Mecca.”
Recently, during a game in Cleveland, LeBron became emotional when the Cavaliers honored him with a video tribute, which is likely a precursor to what could be his last game there. Madison Square Garden is another iconic location where he might bid farewell this season.
There’s some uncertainty about LeBron’s future with the Lakers as they alternate between looking promising and faltering. Luka Doncic has emerged as the face of the franchise, pushing LeBron to the position of the third-leading scorer behind Austin Reeves.
Nonetheless, LeBron is still averaging 21.9 points, 6.6 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game—pretty impressive for someone his age.
He’s sure to feel excited playing at MSG again; it might even make him feel younger.
“He deserves to keep playing as long as he wants to, and he’s certainly proving he can do it at a high level,” Brown added.
