High Ticket Prices Stir Debate Ahead of Knicks vs. Hawks Playoff Match

Zoran Mamdani recently made headlines with an attempt at a dunk, specifically aiming at the Knicks’ long-time rival.

Trae Young, however, wasn’t just going to watch without a reaction; he made sure to stand his ground against the play.

During a press conference on Thursday, New York’s mayor addressed the stark contrast in ticket prices for the Knicks’ first-round playoff series against the Hawks at Madison Square Garden as opposed to those at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

Mamdani seemed keen to hold Young, a former member of the Hawks, responsible before diving into a more thorough discussion.

“First of all, I blame Trae Young,” Mamdani joked, eliciting laughter from the crowd. “It’s always good to have someone to blame.”

He elaborated on the rising costs of attending sports events, mentioning that he sees them as luxury items nowadays and expressed a desire for ticket prices to be more accessible. As of Thursday evening, the least expensive tickets for the Game 1 matchup on Saturday were priced around $353 at Madison Square Garden, whereas tickets for Game 3 in Atlanta next Thursday were only $84.

Requests for comments from the Knicks and Madison Square Garden remained unanswered.

Meanwhile, Young, now with the Wizards after a mid-season trade, took a jab at New York, recalling past comments made during the 2021 playoffs when former mayor Bill de Blasio spoke out on his performance.

“In times like these, remember what happened the last time the mayor of that city uttered my name…. #Please don’t blame me if it happens again,” Young tweeted.

So far in this playoff series, Young has notably performed well, scoring 32 points in the initial matchup and sealing victory with a game-winner in the second, continuing to frustrate Knicks fans. De Blasio had specifically called out Young right after the first game, emphasizing, “This is serious. To Trae Young: stop looking for fouls.”

Despite the Knicks losing in five games, Young maintained an impressive average of 29.2 points and 9.8 assists throughout the series, which kept the chants of “Fk Trae Young” alive among fans.

Young solidified his “villain” role further during the 2024-25 season when he helped eliminate the Knicks from the NBA Cup quarterfinals. He made a bold statement by stepping on the New York logo and mimicking rolling dice to signify his team’s advancement while the Knicks stayed behind.

As the Wizards did not make the playoffs, Young’s next opportunity to face the Knicks may come next season, regardless of his future with the Wizards, as he holds a player option for the 2026-27 season.