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Lakers ticket prices spike for Kobe Bryant's last game

Lakers ticket prices soar for Kobe Bryant's final game
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Lakers ticket prices soar for Kobe Bryant's final game

Fans will pay a lofty fee to see the Los Angeles Lakers season finale, but the team's 16-65 record has certainly not driven that demand.

National Basketball Association legend Kobe Bryant will play his final game Wednesday night against the Utah Jazz. The contest has sold out, and fans have shelled out big-time cash on the secondary market to see Bryant.

The average resale ticket for Wednesday's game was listed at $2,110 as of Monday afternoon, more than 500 percent higher than the average for Lakers home games this year, according to secondary ticket vendor TiqIQ. The cheapest seat goes for $888.

The most expensive ticket is listed at about $25,700.

ctor Jack Nicholson watches from his courtside seat as Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots under pressure from Luc Richard Mbah a Moute of the Los Angeles Clippers during their NBA game on April 6, 2016 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
Frederic J. Brown | AFP | Getty Images

The 37-year-old Bryant announced in November that he would retire after this season, creating a spectacle despite the Lakers' struggles. Bryant has played on teams that won five NBA titles, and he received a most valuable player award and scored the third-most points in league history.

His final year sent ticket prices higher throughout the season. The average resale price for Lakers' home games came in at about $317 this year, second highest to the Golden State Warriors, who have the NBA's best record.

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Isaiah Hicks #4 of the North Carolina Tar Heels, Kenny Williams #24, Joel James #42, Brice Johnson #11, and Marcus Paige #5 look on from the bench in the first half against the Villanova Wildcats during the 2016 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at NRG Stadium on April 4, 2016 in Houston, Texas.
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Kobe mania goes beyond tickets. The Lakers' online store is selling a variety of commemorative Bryant gear, including a $38,000 hat with 18-karat gold trim and a nearly $6,000 jacket.