The Knicks Edge Closer to NBA Finals Appearance
The New York Knicks are just one victory away from their first NBA Finals since 1999. If the crowd outside Madison Square Garden after their last win is any indication, a Finals appearance would set New York City abuzz.
Tickets for “The Garden” during the finals are expected to be pricey, as they have been throughout the playoffs. Yet, no one could have anticipated the staggering amount for just two courtside seats.
According to reports, two courtside tickets have already fetched an astounding $279,804. This sale was made via StubHub, coinciding with the Knicks’ first home game in the Finals, which is Game 3—after the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs, who hold higher seeds, naturally.
It’s difficult to overstate how shocking this figure is, especially considering the historical significance surrounding this iconic franchise.
It’s been 53 years since the Knicks last secured an NBA title, a time well-remembered by fans from the era of greats like Walt Frazier, Phil Jackson, and Willis Reed. Those teams, under coach Red Holtzman, won championships in 1970 and 1973.
Since 1973, the Knicks have only made it to the NBA Finals two times, the first being in 1994. That year, the Houston Rockets denied them their goal with a narrow 90-84 victory in Game 7.
Flash forward to 1999, when Patrick Ewing and his teammates returned to the Finals, facing the Spurs—the same potential opponent this year. However, the Spurs ended things quickly, claiming victory in just five games.
Fans are hoping for a different outcome this time, but first, the Knicks need to overcome the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are currently leading the Eastern Conference Finals 3-0 after a recent win. Remarkably, the Knicks have won 10 consecutive playoff games, though they did suffer two narrow defeats against the Atlanta Hawks in the first round.
Interest in Game 3 tickets at the Garden is already soaring. As of Sunday night, the cheapest option on StubHub was listed at a steep $3,554 for Section 418.
For perspective, the lowest ticket price for a potential NBA Finals Game 1 at Peiko Center, home of the Oklahoma City Thunder—currently leading the Spurs 2-1—sits at $1,252 on StubHub, with first-row seats going for a jaw-dropping $32,106.
The Knicks have a shot at reaching the NBA Finals on Memorial Day, as they gear up to face the Cavaliers in Game 4 in Cleveland at 8 p.m.
