TABLE OF CONTENTS
2020 Regular Season Update
UPDATE (6/12): Shams Charania is reporting the expected dates for the restart of the NBA season:
- July 30-Aug. 14: Seeding games
- Aug.15-16: Play-in tournaments
- Aug. 17: Playoffs begin
- Aug. 30: Family/guests of teams arrive
- Aug. 31-Sept. 13: Conf. Semifinals
- Sept. 15-Sept. 28: Conf. Finals
- Sept. 30-Oct. 13: NBA Finals
On June 4th, the NBA agreed on a 22-Team Tournament to restart the regular season. The tournament will take place in Orlando at the ESPN Wide World of Sports, a a 220-acre basketball, soccer, volleyball, lacrosse, baseball and competitive cheer complex. Fans, unfortunately, will not be allowed in the area.
Twenty-two teams will take part in the 2019-20 season's conclusion. They include the 16 franchises in playoff position at the time of the NBA's suspension March 11 and the six teams within six games of a playoff berth.
Those six consist of the Washington Wizards, Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs.
Teams will play eight regular-season games apiece before a possible play-in tournament for the eighth seed in each conference. The league will then hold its typical four-round playoff consisting of best-of-seven series.
How To Watch 2020 NBA Games
The National Basketball Association is returning to play on July 30 in Orlando, and everyone is excited to see the world’s best basketball players play their final eight regular season contests and playoff games.
There will be 22 teams in the NBA’s “bubble” in Florida, and they will be fighting for 16 playoff spots. Be sure to check out all the amazing NBA action on NBA League Pass.
How Much is NBA League Pass?
The best way to purchase NBA League Pass is through NBA.com, and the prices range from $29.99 for the live package to $124.99 for commercial-free coverage as well as access to all game replays and classic games.
Fans can head to NBA.com/freepreview for a free preview of NBA League Pass while the NBA is on hiatus.
When are NBA Games Being Played?
On Thursday, July 30, the Utah Jazz and New Orleans Pelicans will tip off “bubble” play at 6:30 pm eastern, followed by the Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers at 9:00 pm.
There will be a maximum of seven games per day, with games tipping off between noon and 9:00 pm. The defending champion Toronto Raptors will not restart their season until Saturday, August 1 at 8:30 pm against the Lakers.
The Milwaukee Bucks, the Eastern Conference’s best team, will face arguably their biggest competition within the conference with their first game. They take on the Boston Celtics at 6:30 pm on Friday, July 31.
The regular season schedule is an impressive one, but the playoffs will be even better, and those games will begin on Monday, August 17.
Where to Purchase NBA League Pass?
Fans can purchase NBA League Pass via NBA.com and watch the high-flying dunks, game-changing shots, and show-stopping blocks starting July 30.
Coronavirus Impact on the NBA Ticket Market
With the rest of the 2019-2020 season and playoffs being played in Orlando and without fans, we estimate the lost revenue for secondary market NBA tickets is just under $691 million for the remaining regular season games, and an additional $1 billion for the playoffs. That estimate is based on secondary market value, average attendance from the 2019-20 season and playoffs, and the number of games canceled. This is not a precise measure, but the simplest way to benchmark the magnitude of losses, by team. Below is a breakdown of the teams with the biggest impact across the NBA:
Where To Buy NBA Tickets for 2019-20 Season
With the NBA season here, and there are more ways than ever to get tickets to see your favorite team or your favorite star. With the exception of the 76ers who blend primary and secondary listings on Stubhub, every team has unsold face value tickets available directly from the team. Every team also has tickets available on the secondary market with anywhere from 1,000 to 2,500 tickets available for each game. With about the same amount of unsold face value inventory availability for some teams, it's critical to shop around to make sure you're getting the best deal. For 2019-20, many teams are also offering family packs and pre-loaded concession tickets which is another reason to check all options before buying.
High Priced Teams
| UNSOLD QTY | 2NDARY QTY | 2NDARY AVG | |
| Golden State Warriors | Low | Low | $458 |
| New York Knicks | High | Mid | $261 |
| LA Clippers | Low | Low | $267 |
| Brooklyn Nets | Medium | High | $242 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | Sold Out | High | $150 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | Low | Mid | $137 |
Mid Priced Teams
| Toronto Raptors | Low | Low | $179 |
| Denver Nuggets | Low | High | $154 |
| Miami Heat | Low | Mid | $150 |
| Boston Celtics | Low | Med | $154 |
| San Antonio Spurs | Low | High | $177 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | Low | Mid | $132 |
| Houston Rockets | Low | Low | $189 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | Low | Mid | $103 |
| Sacramento Kings | Medium | Low | $107 |
| Dallas Mavericks | Medium | High | $110 |
Low Priced Teams
| Atlanta Hawks | High | Mid | $107 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | Low | Mid | $105 |
| Chicago Bulls | High | Mid | $133 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | Low | Low | $58 |
| Phoenix Suns | Medium | Mid | $85 |
| Orlando Magic | Medium | Low | $87 |
| Washington Wizards | Medium | High | $92 |
| Indiana Pacers | Low | Low | $94 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | Medium | Med | $72 |
| Utah Jazz | Low | Mid | $117 |
| Detroit Pistons | High | High | $69 |
| Charlotte Hornets | High | Mid | $64 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | Medium | Mid | $73 |
How Much Are 2019-20 NBA Tickets
While the 2019 off-season was as active as any, whether the realignment of the stars impacts who's playing in June remains to be seen. Ticket prices, however, are already showing the impact of the off-season moves. In particular, the Los Angeles Clippers ticket prices has nearly doubled in price. Despite the jump, the Clippers still don't have the priciest ticket in the league. That belongs to their arena-mates, the Los Angeles Lakers, who unseated the Golden State Warriors as the priciest tickets in the league. With the addition of Anthony Davis, prices are up to $473 up 2% over last season, while Golden State's average fell 1% to $458. On the downside, Minnesota Timberwolves' prices fell from $140 to $58, making Target Center the cheapest place in the country to see a pro basketball game.
Most Expensive NBA Teams
In addition to the the Clippers, the Nets also have had a big jump on the secondary ticket market, with the addition of Kyrie Irving. With Kyrie gone from Boston, the Celtics have one of the biggest price drops compared to last season, with their tickets down 32%.
On the secondary market TicketIQ has Low Price Guarantees on all sold out NBA Tickets. That means if you find the same ticket for less, we'll give you 200% of the difference in ticket credit. TicketIQ is also the leading source of ticket market data used by major news outlets, like CNBC, Business Insider, Fox and others. Enjoy the TicketIQ blog for most in-depth coverage of the NBA ticket market and use TicketIQ.com to save 15% compared to other major tickets sellers.
Biggest Price Gainers
What Teams Have the Best Value For Tickets In 2019
If winning and affordability are the goals, the Jazz have the best deal for tickets on the secondary market and the Pistons are the second-best value in the NBA.
TicketIQ Blog 2019-20 NBA Team Buying Guides w/ Sold Out and Unsold Details
- Clippers - 2 minute read + Infographics
- Knicks - 2 minute read + Infographics
- Miami Heat - 2 minute read + Infographics
- Pistons - 2 minute read + Infographics
- Pelicans - 2 minute read + Infographics
- Magic - 2 minute read + Infographics
2018-19 NBA Tickets: Warriors, Lakers, and Knicks Most Expensive On Secondary Market
Most Expensive Prices for 2018-19
When a team wins back-to-back championships, their tickets are simply going to be desirable. For the fourth year in a row, the Golden State Warriors have the highest average secondary market ticket price; it’s risen by about 2% this year to $463. Right behind them are the Los Angeles Lakers with their new addition of LeBron James, who has single-handedly boosted their ticket prices to an average of $444. Beyond the two California clubs, no other teams’ average price breaks $300.
Least Expensive Prices for 2018-19
Unsurprisingly, the Charlotte Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans are at the bottom of the barrel in terms of secondary market price, averaging $89 and $104 respectively. Both teams missed the playoffs last season and will face an uphill climb to change that this year. The Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, and Dallas Mavericks round out the bottom five. Both Minnesota and Portland will likely be in the hunt for a playoff spot, so there could be some value to be had in those markets.
Most Expensive Games
The NBA is a league driven by stars and the most expensive games reflect that reality. The 11 most expensive games on the secondary market either feature Steph Curry’s Warriors or LeBron James’ Lakers. The two games when the two teams meet in Oakland clock in with massive average prices; they currently sit at $1768 for the Christmas Day showdown and $1378 for a February faceoff. You’ll have to pay nearly $250 just to get in the building for either of those dates.
Team Value Index
Based on each team’s average ticket price on the secondary market and ESPN’s season projections, we can determine each team’s value in terms of dollars per win. Looking at those stats, there are plenty of good deals to be had; the highlights include several playoff teams—the Indiana Pacers, Houston Rockets, and Toronto Raptors—towards the top of the list. On the opposite side of the spectrum, you’ll be paying a premium to see the struggles of New York Knicks.
Biggest Price Changes
LeBron James is arguably the NBA’s biggest name and his fingerprints are all over the secondary ticket market. After his departure from the Midwest, Cleveland Cavaliers tickets plummeted by an average of 42%. On the opposite side of the country, Los Angeles Lakers tickets rose by 48% per game. Outside of LeBron’s shadow, now might be the time to look into Toronto Raptors tickets; their secondary market fell by 29% despite their 207-18 success and addition of Kawhi Leonard.
During the 2017-18 NBA season, only nine teams averaged 100% attendance. Combine that with the fact that the league lacks a uniform entry policy—most teams will accept mobile tickets, but some will only accept tickets on specific apps—and the primary ticket market may be your best bet this season. But no matter which market you’re shopping on, there are plenty of great deals for the upcoming NBA season if you know where to look.
NBA Christmas Day Games
Since 2011, the NBA has claimed Christmas Day as an opportunity to showcase the best the league has to offer. This year’s schedule features five games: the Milwaukee Bucks at the New York Knicks, the Philadelphia 76ers at the Boston Celtics, the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Houston Rockets, the Portland Trailblazers at the Utah Jazz, and the Los Angeles Lakers at the Golden State Warriors.
In terms of a bargain, the game to circle on the calendar is Oklahoma City and Houston. ESPN projects the Rockets and Thunder to be the second and fourth place teams in the Western Conference, respectively, but you can score seats for half of the price of the mediocre Knicks-Bucks match-up. The average secondary market price for a ticket at Vivint Smart Home Arena is $220 and the cheapest available seat is $75; you’ll have to pay at least $184 on the secondary market to get into Madison Square Garden.
The highlight of the day, however, is undeniably the Lakers’ visit to the Warriors. Understandably, the secondary market prices are sky high; the average resale ticket price currently sits at $1,820, while the get-in price is $248. Both of those rates are the highest ever for a Christmas Day game.
