Kobe Bryant's Final Game Creates Media Frenzy At Staples Center

Between 400-500 media credentials have been issued for Lakers G Kobe Bryant's final NBA game tonight at Staples Center against the Jazz. NBA Senior VP/Basketball Communications Tim Frank said that includes about 60 int'l media members representing 15 countries. Lakers VP/PR John Black said those figures are "completely unprecedented" for a regular-season game during his 26-year tenure with the team. Black added that "such a media onslaught is comparable to one for a conference final game." The team and league by yesterday afternoon "had declined more than 200 credential requests" (ESPN.com, 4/13).

Secondary ticket prices for the game as of yesterday afternoon reached as high as $18,000 for courtside seats, the "highest for any regular season game that Barry Rudin of Barry's Tickets has seen during his 33 years in the ticket business." The game is now "inching closer to the priciest game Rudin's ever seen," Game 7 of the '10 NBA Finals (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 4/13).