How Much are NBA Courtside Tickets?

July 8, 2025 by

There’s nothing quite like courtside seats at an NBA game. You’re inches from the action, close enough to hear sneakers squeak, players shout, and occasionally even snag a rebound. But as unforgettable as that proximity feels, it doesn’t come cheap.

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Here’s a complete breakdown of what these elite courtside tickets cost—from the regular season to NBA Finals—and why the price tag is so steep.

Contents

1 What Are Courtside Seats?
2 Regular Season Courtside Pricing
3 Playoffs: A Whole New Ballgame
4 Market Size & Team Influence
5 Seat Location Costs Vary, Even Courtside
6 Hidden Costs to Consider
7 How to Score Courtside Without Breaking the Bank
8 Recent Real-World Examples
9 What You’re Paying For
10 Final Thoughts

What Are Courtside Seats?

Courtside seats are exactly what they sound like: the first rows directly adjacent to the playing court. Beyond boasting the best view, they offer exclusive perks—VIP entrances, concierge service, gourmet dining, parking, and sometimes in-seat food & drink.

In many arenas, courtside fans hear the coaches’ chat, watch players from just feet away, and even get noticed on TV.

Regular Season Courtside Pricing

During the regular season, courtside ticket prices can vary drastically:

Low-demand games (weekday matchups or unpopular teams) might dip into the hundreds or low thousands.
Mid-tier franchises: expect ~$1,500 per seat on average
High-profile teams (e.g., Lakers, Knicks): base prices range from $2,650–$4,600
Premium matchups featuring star players or marquee rivalries (e.g, Lakers vs. Celtics) often start at $3,000–$5,000+
On secondary markets, expect a markup, including fees and taxes, of 25% or more above face value.

Here’s a sample range table:

Team Type	Regular-Season Courtside Price
Small-market	$500–$1,500
Mid-market	$1,500–$3,000
Large-market	$3,000–$5,000+

Playoffs: A Whole New Ballgame

Elite pricing begins once the playoffs tip off:

First Round: $3,000–$10,000 per seat
Conference Semis: $5,000–$15,000+
Conference Finals: $10,000–$30,000+
NBA Finals: This is premium nightlife—expect to pay $20,000–$ 100,000 or more per seat, with occasional prices soaring above $120,000.

Why such exponential hikes?
Because exclusive supply meets skyrocketing demand. With just a handful of courtside seats per arena and massive buzz, prices soar late in the season.

For example:

The 2022 Finals averaged ~$40,000/courtside seat
Some seats in the 2017 Finals sold for $133,000 for two tickets ($66,500 each)
Secondary market highs of $311,600 for Game 5 in a recent Finals.

Market Size & Team Influence

Courtside pricing is heavily shaped by the team:

Lakers, Knicks, Warriors: even a regular-season seat near the bench can cost $5,000+, with playoff prices easily tripling
Mid-market teams (Pacers, Thunder): early-round courtside seats are often $3K–$5K; playoff seats jump accordingly but stay below blue-chip franchises
Small-market teams (Memphis, Orlando): regular-season courtside seats may start as low as $500–$700

A Reddit fan explained:

“Courtside seats at the edge of the court in Memphis run around $500.”

Seat Location Costs Vary, Even Courtside

All courtside seats aren’t created equal:

Mid-court seats (by benches/scorer’s table) are the most coveted—prices stratospheric.
Baseline courtside seats (behind baskets) are still courtside but generally cheaper.

Example:

Lakers playoff courtside row 1: $12,000–$22,000
Knicks playoff playoffs: seats near center baseline > $54,000 per seat for high-demand Games.

Hidden Costs to Consider

When planning for courtside action, don’t forget:

Face value: base price from the team.
Service and processing fees: usually 15–25%.
Taxes on resale tickets.
Resale markup: demand-based premiums

Your $5,000 seat could end up costing $6,500–$7,000 total once all is said and done.

How to Score Courtside Without Breaking the Bank

If rubbing shoulders with LeBron would be a dream come true, here are some strategies:

Smaller-market teams, such as those in markets like Memphis, Charlotte, or New Orleans, may offer courtside seats in the $500–$1,500 range, especially for midweek games.
Off-peak scheduling: weekday or preseason games can be much less expensive.
Lower baseline courtside: still courtside but more affordable than mid-court.
Wait for price fluctuations from resale platforms like SeatGeek, TickPick, Vivid Seats, and StubHub.
VIP hospitality packages: may include courtside seats bundled with perks, sometimes undercutting resale costs

Recent Real-World Examples

Knicks vs. Celtics Game 3 (May 2025 Conference Semis): cheapest ticket was $704, average $989, and courtside seats reached $54,500
NBA Finals Game 5 (Pacers vs. Thunder): Secondary market courtside seats exceeded $ 1,200, with standard seats priced around $250.
Knicks Eastern Conference Finals: nosebleed seats hit $1,000; courtside seats listed for $105,000
Lakers vs. Celtics regular-season in Boston: courtside seats fetched $23,112, with the cheapest seats at TD Garden $485.

What You’re Paying For

Courtside seats come with more than just a prime view:

Unfiltered audio: hear play-calling, squeaky shoes, and the occasional coach hack.
TV exposure: fans often get airtime
Perks: valet parking, VIP lounges, in-seat dining, and private entrances – often included.
Bragging rights: it’s a luxury experience, and the social media envy is real.

Final Thoughts

In summary:

🏀 Regular season: courtside can run $500 to $5,000+, depending on team and matchup.
Playoffs: expect $3,000 to $30,000+ in the early rounds, with Finals seats soaring to $20,000–$120,000+.
Market matters: big markets yield big prices, while smaller ones offer the best bargains.
Perks & positioning: baseline seats and mid-week games can be significantly cheaper than center-court VIP seats.

So, how much do courtside tickets cost?

Basically, whatever you’re willing to pay.

They’re rare, unmatched in experience, and perfectly priced for a premium crowd.

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