FILE PHOTO: February 2, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) in the second half against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Required credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA Sports TODAY
LOS ANGELES — It’s Oscar season in Los Angeles but instead of the red carpet, all eyes are on the NBA arena where Lakers forward LeBron James is on track to become the league’s all-time top scorer. fight.
James needs 36 points to eclipse Lakers great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record of 38,387 and will get his first chance to do so at home on Tuesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Tickets for that game start at $284, 50% more than the team’s season average, according to ticket retailer StubHub.
Prices are still higher for Thursday’s home game against the Milwaukee Bucks, suggesting the market believes James, who is averaging 30 points per game in his 20th season, will need two games to hit the column. this landmark.
To match Hollywood’s brightest stars, tickets to Tuesday’s game can cost you up to $48,403 and Thursday’s $68,995, according to retailer TickPick.
The sticker shock had some Lakers fans scrambling to find a way to witness history at a reduced price.
“I just texted my boy right now to see if he could get tickets for Tuesday’s game, because that’s when I think he’s going to break it,” said Moses Maldonado said while watching a Lakers game on Saturday at the Legends Sports Bar in Long Beach.
“He works for the Lakers but he hasn’t responded yet,” he said.
“I have to be in that game. I have to be there.”
Others argue that the record-breaking will help James, who won championships in Miami and Cleveland before claiming his fourth title as the Laker in 2020, step out of the shadow of the late Kobe Bryant.
Bryant, one of the most beloved players ever to wear purple and gold, is fourth on the list of all-time goalscorers.
Longtime Lakers fan Mike DeMars said: “This could be one of the things that makes him love LA more.
Long Beach native Mark Ellis said standing alone on top of a mountain scoring goals certainly strengthens James’ case as the all-time great, although that debate will likely never be. be solved.
“For me, it’s hard to compare different eras because the game was different in the 80s and 90s,” Ellis said.
“But he is definitely on Mount Rushmore. For me, he’s one of the top four players in the NBA ever.”
BUT RELATED STORY
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your registration has been successful.
Continue reading
Register QUESTIONER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer and more than 70 other titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to news, download as early as 4am and share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
For feedback, complaints or requests, Contact us.
