When is the last time you went to an NBA game and saw a truly great player? And when is the last time you’ve been able to do it on the cheap?
Prices for NBA tickets went up 3.4% compared from last season. This might not seem like much, but it bumped up the cost of an average NBA ticket to $53.98. That means just two tickets are going to set you back over $100, and for the more budget conscious out there, that means you’re going to fewer and fewer games.
Not so fast. You can still find great deals to see the best players in the league for less than $20 a ticket. Having searched the CHARGED.fm marketplace, I’ve discovered a ton of great deals that get you in the arena to see some of the top players in the game without having to break the bank. I’ve got proof. Here are five of the best NBA players you can see for less than $20 this weekend thanks to CHARGED.fm.
Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
Anthony Davis has been filling up the stat sheet all season long for the New Orleans Pelicans. In his third season, Davis has taken his game to the next level and is easily a top-ten player in the league right now. He’s third in the NBA in scoring at 25.5 a game, fifth in rebounding with 11.4 a game, first in blocks at 3.9 and tied for first in steals with 2.3 a night. He also throws in two assists a night for good measure. He’s the best player in the league according to John Hollinger’s PER ranking, and it’s hard to argue when you see how he impacts a game in all phases.
Remember what Davis did in the Pelican’s season opener against the Orlando Magic? 26 points, 17 rebounds, 9 blocks and a couple assists?
It’s hard to find a player who contributes in as many facets of the game at as high a level as Davis does. He is blossoming this season into one of the most complete and exciting players in the league. This Friday, the Pelicans travel to Denver to face the Denver Nuggets and you can see him play for just $11 a ticket.
Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
Tim Duncan is the greatest power forward in NBA history, and the fact that he’s playing at such a high level at age 38 is a testament to his incredible skill and longevity. Through 10 games, Duncan is going about business as usual and averaging a double-double of 14.5 points and 10.7 rebounds a game. You know how rare it is for a player to average a double-double for a season at 38 or older? It hasn’t been done yet. The last player to average a double-double at 37 was the great Robert Parish during the 90-91 season.
It’s not often you get to see one of the greatest players of all-time, especially one that is still playing as well as Tim Duncan is for a championship team in the Spurs. On Friday, you can see Duncan and the Spurs take on the Minnesota Timberwolves for just $15 a seat.
John Wall, Washington Wizards Tickets
The Wizards are currently third in the Eastern Conference standings, and one of the biggest reasons for that has been the play of star point guard John Wall. By changing his game slightly this season and actually doing a little less individually, Wall is doing more to help the Wizards win ballgames. He’s averaging a career-best 9.3 assists per game in addition to a career-best 2.82 assist/turnover ratio through 10 games. Wall is taking fewer shots and fewer threes and attacking the basket more, averaging almost two more free throw attempts a game than last season. He is also contributing as much on defense as ever, as he is tied for the league lead in steals at 2.3 a night. And, ho-hum, he’s still leading the team in scoring at over 18 a game.
Wall is focusing in on improving his point guard play, and by doing that he is becoming even more of a leader for the rising Wizards. When Washington travels to Milwaukee to take on the surprising Bucks this Saturday, you can get in the arena for just $11 a pop.
Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
In a short time, Portland’s dynamic point guard has already cemented himself as one of the best playmakers in the league. In his third season, Lillard is doing even more to expand his game and help Portland remain elite in a loaded Western Conference. Lillard is still scoring at a high level (20.9 PPG) and is dishing out plenty of assists (6.6 APG), but now he is chipping in on the boards in a bigger way. At just 6’3”, Lillard is mixing it up early and averaging 5.1 rebounds a game to help the Blazers close out possessions and get more scoring opportunities on the offensive end.
What makes Lillard even more fun to watch is his penchant for the dramatic. He never shies away from big moments, and in fact embraces them. Lillard wants the ball in his hands when the game is on the line, and he’s already come through for the Blazers in the biggest of spots:
Lillard will get to face a point guard that knows how to rebound extremely well this Sunday when the Trail Blazers face the Boston Celtics. You can see Lillard go head-to-head with Rajon Rondo in Bean Town for just $16 a ticket.
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
I wrote about Curry’s partner in crime, Klay Thompson, last week, but it’s time for the original “Splash Brother” to get some love. Thompson’s ascension hasn’t taken anything away from Curry being Golden State’s number one guy. Curry is still leading the Warriors in scoring (and is top-five in the league), leads the team in assists (he’s top-five there, too), and is also tied for the league lead in steals with two other players on this list. While he was slightly off from long distance to start the season, Curry has heated up recently. Over his last four games, Curry has drained 14-30 three pointers, and when Curry gets going, he can fill it up from anywhere on the court.
Golden State travels to Oklahoma City on Sunday to face Reggie Jackson, Serge Ibaka and the Thunder. You can see not one, but two of the best shooters in the game for just $14 a ticket.