The secret located beneath the baskets at Crypto.com Arena will soon be revealed to all.
On Thursday, the Los Angeles Lakers announced the introduction of new courtside reserve seats for the NBA Playoffs, set to be unveiled on April 18th.
In advance of Sunday’s game against the Utah Jazz, the California Post got an exclusive preview of these new seating arrangements.
The newly added courtside reserve seats are positioned in the second row behind the existing courtside seats along the baseline. Fans will have an up-close view of every playoff game as the Lakers face the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
There will be roughly 60 seats available, evenly split between both baskets, according to team officials. These seats will offer in-seat food and drink service, along with access to a VIP club during halftime, creating a premium experience from the moment you step into the arena. It’s almost like having a backstage pass to one of the top events in sports.
Courtside seats at Lakers games have been a part of the culture for over fifty years, drawing personalities from Jack Nicholson to Jay-Z. From the Showtime era to the Kobe and Shaq days, and of course, with stars like LeBron James and even Luka Doncic, the courtside experience has been exclusive to both celebrities and true basketball fans.
Although courtside seats have been sold out since the 1970s, these new openings present a small opportunity.
Lakers officials shared that playoff seat prices could range from $15,000 to $30,000 each, which certainly highlights an additional revenue stream for the Lakers, especially under the ownership of Mark Walter, who purchased the team last November at a valuation of $10 billion.
For those hoping to snag one of these coveted seats, simply showing up won’t suffice. The process starts with filling out an interest form. This mechanism helps maintain exclusivity before any transaction occurs. After submitting the form, the Lakers will follow up with an email if you’re selected to purchase tickets.
If you’re fortunate enough to receive that email, you’ll get to see LeBron James and maybe catch a glimpse of some celebrities like Will Ferrell, Denzel Washington, or Leonardo DiCaprio, amongst others.
