The Los Angeles Lakers have maintained their footing in the top five of a cutthroat Western Conference all season. Even with a middling 8-7 record through the first month of 2026, the duo of Luka Doncic and LeBron James remains the most feared tandem in the league. Tonight, they head into Washington to face a Wizards team that has become the league’s cellar-dweller, tied with four other franchises for a league-low 12 wins.
While the Wizards game is expected to be a tune-up, the real storm is brewing for the next stop on their East Coast swing, a date with the second-seeded New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Lakers-Knicks is the Hottest Ticket Since Kobe’s Farewell
When LeBron James walks into “The Mecca,” the world watches. But this Sunday feels different. Following his emotional, tear-filled appearance in Cleveland earlier this week, the whispers that this could be James’ 23rd and final season have turned into a roar.
Fans are treating this like it’s the last time they’ll see the King on the hardwood at MSG, and the secondary market is reflecting that desperation. According to TickPick, the average purchase price for Sunday’s showdown has hit $912, making it the most expensive regular-season NBA night since Kobe Bryant’s legendary 60-point finale in 2016. To put this “LeBron Premium” into perspective, look at the most expensive regular-season tickets recorded since 2010:
- Lakers at Knicks (2026): Averaging around $1,138 in specific high-demand tiers, with a general average of $912.
- Kobe Bryant’s Final Game (2016): Resale medians hit roughly $1,388, with spikes reaching well over $1,600.
- Chicago Bulls at Knicks (2017-18): Premium resale tickets touched $3,709 during high-market surges.
- Warriors at Lakers (2017-18): High-end resale peaked at $3,597.
- Lakers at Celtics (March 2025): Averaged $731, previously the gold standard for expensive non-playoff matchups.
The Documentary: Is LeBron James really ready to walk away?
Despite the tears in Cleveland and the sky-high ticket prices at MSG, LeBron has yet to make any official retirement announcement. Knowing how the James camp operates, meticulously controlling every narrative, it’s hard to imagine him walking away without a pre-announced, year-long farewell tour.
Reports have already surfaced of a camera crew following his every move this season for a potential documentary, suggesting he wants to document the climb, but not necessarily the descent. The motive for sticking around likely boils down to one thing: a fifth championship. Winning another title would tie him with Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant at five rings, silencing one of the few remaining arguments used by his critics.
Beyond the rings, the longevity records are almost entirely his. He’s already the all-time leader in points and minutes, and by the end of this season, he’ll be the player with the most games played in NBA history. He is also closing in on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record for most career wins (1,074). Unless he hoists that trophy in June, don’t be surprised if the “King” decides he has one more chapter left in the tank.
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