Mamdani attends a Knicks game, sitting in the area where tickets are about $700 or higher.

Mayor’s Low-Key Attendance at Knicks Game

New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani was spotted at Madison Square Garden during the Knicks’ Game 2 win over the Cavaliers, having paid about $700 for his seat in the arena. Interestingly, his appearance wasn’t listed in his public itinerary.

After the Knicks secured a surprising 109-93 victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals, Mamdani shared a cheerful photo on social media. In the image, he was alongside public advocate Jumaane Williams with the caption, “Forever the Knicks.”

During the game, a fellow fan snapped a picture of the mayor, who was watching from a nearby seat, as reported by NY1 journalist Bernadette Hogan.

A spokesperson from City Hall confirmed that Mamdani bought his tickets at their face value. The mayor’s office didn’t provide immediate feedback when approached for comments.

Outside the arena, it seemed many fans were more focused on Knicks player Jalen Brunson and his rumored “Mambino curse,” which some fans believe has impacted the Mets’ recent losing streak, rather than on Mamdani himself.

Before the electrifying game, a local figure named Voodoo King Michael Washington performed a spiritual cleansing, trying to ease the apprehensions about the notion of “socialist witchcraft.”

However, some younger attendees were unaware of who Mamdani was. Eighteen-year-old Kevin Taylor, who was enjoying the game with friends, expressed his excitement about the Knicks’ performance. “I feel great. The Knicks are doing great, you know, they’re in great shape,” he said, adding that if they reached the finals, they would need a larger TV for viewing.

When questioned about the mayor, Taylor was surprised. “Mamdani? Who is that?” he asked, to which his friend responded, “That’s the mayor!” Without missing a beat, Taylor quipped, “Jalen Brunson is now the mayor of New York.”

Jailin Polanco, a 29-year-old esthetician and Mets fan, had a more intense reaction upon learning of Mamdani’s presence in the arena. “I didn’t know about the curse. But now it all makes sense,” she remarked. “He needs to leave the Knicks alone, since they’re doing so well… Oh, he’s here? Pack him. I’ll pack him. Come on.” Her friend Christian Diaz chimed in, “He needs to worry about his city, not about Knicks basketball.”