Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant Played a Game Whose Most Expensive Seat Cost as Much as the Average Nike Shoe

May 22, 2022 | 10:23 AM EDT

Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant Played a Game Whose Most Expensive Seat Cost as Much as the Average Nike Shoe

May 22, 2022 | 10:23 AM EDT

Watching the NBA live must be on the bucket list of millions of fans around the world. Moreover, watching the games from the courtside is a long shot for many, considering the high prices. However, a game between stars like Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant had courtside seats which cost as much as a Nike shoe!

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Safe to say, the seat booking website would crash today if a courtside seat cost that much! During the 2011 NBA lockout, stars like Bryant, Durant, Chris Paul, and Derrick Rose played a game in the Philippines. Interestingly enough, fans could watch them up close without having to pay a fortune.

Lucky fans watched Kobe Bryant and other stars for a cheap price

Ever wondered how it feels to watch your favorite NBA stars from the courtside? Well, in case you decide to get yourself a courtside seat, the price would be around $1500. This figure varies depending on the popularity of the team and the stage of the season the game is being played.

Interestingly enough, NBA fans in the Philippines got to witness stars like Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, and Derrick Rose for only $130. Yes, you heard that right. The courtside seat cost just $130!

We're talking about a game with Kobe, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, and James Harden on a $130 courtside seat 😲 pic.twitter.com/pZIoxZSiRh
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) May 22, 2022

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This game was played during the NBA lockout in 2011. The 2011 lockout was the fourth and the most recent lockout in NBA history. It lasted a whopping 161 days from 1 July 2011 to 8 December 2011.

During this time, NBA players traveled to the Philippines to play a game. The NBA stars, led by Kobe, played two games against the PBA selection team and the Philippines National Team.

Fans thronged the arena to see their favorite players live. Some lucky fans got the opportunity to watch them courtside while not having to shell out a fortune.

To put things into perspective, the average cost of a Nike shoe in the Philippines is around $77. Why not dish out a few more dollars and watch players like Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, and others live?

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What is your favorite memory of Kobe Bryant? Let us know in the comments down below.

Written by

Abhinava Ghosh

1,823 Articles

Abhinava Ghosh is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports with a wealth of experience covering the league. He has written over 1400 articles for EssentiallySports, showcasing his expertise in analyzing and reporting on NBA trade rumors, injury updates, and the ever-changing dynamics of the league. He had successfully covered the entire Kevin Durant trade saga at Brooklyn, which led to the basketball legend’s move to the Desert. He also kept our readers updated on the Brittney Griner situation throughout her exile in Russia. One of Abhinava's proudest moments came in 2015 when the Golden State Warriors won the NBA title after 40 years. As a lifelong fan of the Dubs, Abhinava was thrilled to see his team reach the pinnacle of the sport, but he remained objective and professional in his reporting.

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Edited by

Arunaditya Aima