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Could you afford to go to Kobe's final game?

<p>With Kobe Bryant finally hanging it up, many have asked which one of his jersey numbers should ascend to its rightful place in the Staples Center ceiling.</p><p>Both numbers&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/720074534242488320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">will be on the floor</a>&nbsp;for Wednesday&#39;s historic game, but only one should hang in the rafters. Here&#39;s why:</p><p>Kobe Bryant spent 10 seasons in both jerseys. His stats for the two time periods&nbsp;<a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/kobe-vs--kobe--who-wins--no--8-or-no--24-023131935.html;_ylt=AwrC0F_kYg5XDkcAZEtNbK5_;_ylu=X3oDMTByMHVzM20zBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMzBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzYw--" target="_blank">are nearly identical</a>&nbsp;racking up better than 16,000 points, 3,100 assists and 3,400 rebounds in both eras.</p><p>He&#39;s got five championships: one, a three-peat, and the other, a back-to-back run. Obviously though, the three championships come with a caveat a 7-foot, 300-pound asterisk.</p><p>&quot;Your last game at the staples, can you give us 50 that night?&quot; Shaquille O&#39;Neal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dT6-RzSpfg" target="_blank">asks Kobe Bryant.</a></p><p>&quot;No!&quot; Kobe Bryant tells O&#39;Neal.</p><p>Much has been made about what could&#39;ve been if Shaq and Kobe both stayed in LA. After all, four trips to the finals in five years is about as good as it gets.</p><p>But that&#39;s what makes Bryant&#39;s time as No. 24 so important. The milestones in his career while wearing&nbsp;<i>that</i>&nbsp;number are undoubtedly his and his alone.</p><p>While Bryant was a three-time champion as No. 8, he was a Finals MVP twice as No. 24.</p><p>Bryant managed to drop 81 points in one game against the Raptors (2nd most ever) in No. 8, but he won his only MVP award wearing No. 24.</p><p>And while he lost in the Finals as No. 8&nbsp;<i>and</i>&nbsp;No. 24, he only was able to avenge that loss as No. 24.</p><p>&quot;Was 2010 the most important championship for you?&quot; a reporter asks off-camera.</p><p>&quot;Yep, no question about it,&quot; Bryant responds.</p><p>Kobe Bryant became the legend he is today in the second half of his career, and he&#39;s even said as much. He told a Lakers.com reporter that &quot;he&#39;s evolved more into himself in 24.&quot;</p><p>As for what the Lakers organization will decide, no one knows, but general manager Mitch Kupchak says&nbsp;<a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/lakersnow/la-sp-ln-kupchak-lakers-may-retire-8-24-kobe-bryant-20160103-story.html" target="_blank">the team is considering both</a>, which would make Bryant the first player in NBA history to get two numbers from the same team hung in the rafters.</p>
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Tonight, the woeful Los Angeles Lakers and the hapless Utah Jazz will do battle in a meaningless regular season finale. But don’t expect to show up to the Staples Center and steal a pair of cheap seats from scalpers.

That’s because future Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant will be playing in his final NBA game tonight. The Laker legend announced in November that he would be calling it quits after this season, following five championships, 18 All-Star appearances, and an MVP selection.

So, how much does it cost to be a part of NBA history? SeatGeek, a sports ticket aggregator, lists the best deal for an upper-bowl ticket for tonight’s game would cost a minimum of $1,054. If you’re looking to spring for a seat closer to the floor, your best bet is a seat in the Staples Center’s section 102, which will cost you nearly $4,000.

And those are just the best deals. SeatGeek’s worst deal in the building? A spot in Suite C 27, going for $14,000. Let’s hope that food and drink are all-inclusive.

 

 

Once you’re inside the Staples Center, there’s no shortage of memorabilia available for Kobe’s final game. In addition to the commemorative shirt that will be draped on all the Staples Center seats on Wednesday, there’s a number of shirts celebrating Bryant’s historic career, all falling between $24.99 and $30 in the Lakers' shop. But, of course, that just won’t do it for the glitz and glam of Hollywood.

For just $38,024, you can own a New Era limited release Kobe Bryant hat, according to a report from ESPN. The cap is made of snakeskin (a la Bryant’s nickname, Black Mamba) and lambskin, and has his current number (24) emblazoned on the front in 3.5 ounces of 18-karat gold. Better act fast though, as only eight of the caps are for sale (get it? His old number). For the frugal fan, New Era also produced eight purple cashmere and gold snakeskin caps that will sell for $24,008.

 

 

In addition to whatever gear you decide to buy, you can expect to pay at least $30 for parking, but some reports have prices skyrocketing to close to $200.

 

 

To top it all off, the Lakers offer some of the most expensive beer prices in the NBA at $8.50 per 20 oz. brew.


Find more statistics at Statista

Maybe watching from home isn’t such a bad idea.

Alex Hider is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @alexhider.

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