Lonzo Ball may not have had the best start to his Summer League career, but he’s getting people to show up in Las Vegas to see him play. Fans sold out the Thomas and Mack Center on Saturday night as fans packed the house to see Ball and Boston Celtics top pick Jayson Tatum face off for the first time.
Fans hoping to snag tickets to the Summer League matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Celtics could also get a look at the most hyped second overall pick in recent memory. But many started reporting on Saturday afternoon that there were no seats available for that evening’s game.
People outside the arena complaining they can't get into Lakers-Celtics. First time the Vegas summer league has ever sold out in advance.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) July 8, 2017
And indeed, the venue was sold out come game time.
lakers-celtics seriously sold out summer league for the first time ever, this is absurd pic.twitter.com/OL85GJdMqc
— tim cato (@tim_cato) July 9, 2017
Others reported that Ball and the Lakers managed to sell out on Friday night as well, but many media members said it was the first time a Summer League game was officially sold out.
Damn. Summer League already sold out for today @World_Wide_Wob. (Sold out last night). pic.twitter.com/jyRWKngxAl
— Nathan Thomas (@natethomas02) July 8, 2017
ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk reported that it was officially the first time a day of Summer League had been sold out in advance.
While there have been sellouts on the day of in seasons past, this marks the first time in the 14 years that the NBA summer league has been held at Las Vegas that an entire day session at the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion sold out of tickets in advance.
The $30 general admission tickets for Saturday’s game have been selling on ticket resale sites for $250 each.
Those that did get a chance to watch Ball play in person saw a few highlights against the Celtics. Even Magic Johnson seemed impressed at times.
Maigc Johnson impressed with Lonzo Ball's pass pic.twitter.com/PS3tfIPJ2e
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) July 9, 2017
Of course, Lonzo’s father LaVar Ball was in attendance and had plenty to say about his son, including that he’d be the “best guard ever” and could surpass the Lakers’ team president.
LaVar Ball says Lonzo gonna be better than Magic Johnson "He gonna be the best guard ever" pic.twitter.com/sft1OeKqem
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) July 9, 2017
Take that for what you will. It’s difficult to believe anything LaVar says about his son’s potential at this point, but what’s clear is that all the hype is working. Ball is selling tickets in Vegas, and until the talk falls off he’s going to do similar things throughout the league.