NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
The NBA Finals return to Madison Square Garden for the first time in 27 years, and ticket prices, as well as the team’s success so far against the San Antonio Spurs, have been a hot topic.
But one player among the starting five believes it’s “ridiculous” to see thousands of dollars being spent on a single ticket to get into “Mecca.”
Josh Hart spoke to reporters before Game 3 began Monday night at The Garden, where he was asked about ticket prices for Games 3 and 4 scheduled for this week.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
New York Knicks guard Josh Hart reacts during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 4 of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on May 10, 2026. (Kyle Ross/Image Images)
“I wish the ticket prices weren’t as crazy as they are,” Hart responded.
“I feel like a lot of people who have been waiting for this moment for a long time, unfortunately they can’t get into the building. “The cheapest ticket is $7,000 or $8,000. “That’s ridiculous.”
GAME 3 OF THE KNICKS-SPURS NBA FINALS AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN COULD BECOME THE MOST EXPENSIVE SPORTS EVENT ON RECORD
Tickets soared after the Knicks held on to beat the Spurs, 105-104, to push their series lead to 2-0 heading into Game 3. Over the weekend, the entry price on secondary ticket markets reached $10,000.
Tickets have since dropped, with some pointing to the fact that President Donald Trump plans to attend Game 3. There will be enhanced security measures and tight restrictions on what fans can bring into the stadium, and the Knicks said in a statement that they should arrive at The Garden about two hours before kickoff to “allow additional time for inspection and entry.”
KNICKS CENTER MITCHELL ROBINSON LOOKS ON TO PLAY GAME 3 AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP
Screening could be similar to a TSA line at an airport.
Trump was also asked about ticket prices over the weekend, and his response was very different from Hart’s own.
“You can watch it on TV,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Friday after being asked about tickets to the game he is expected to attend.
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on his way to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, on Friday. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images))
“It’s almost free to watch it on television. That’s life,” he added.
Monday night would mark another major sporting event that Trump has attended since being sworn in for his second term. He was at the Super Bowl in New Orleans two NFL seasons ago, while also attending the Daytona 500 and the Ryder Cup.
For the Knicks, there is a chance to sweep the best-of-seven series as they continue to face the Spurs in their building this time. Game 4 would be a possible opportunity to clinch the championship, and ticket prices have also matched the timing.
The admission price, per game time, is $10,097 starting Sunday night, and the maximum is $110,964.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver even commented on Finals ticket prices, calling it “frustrating” that more people can’t afford to attend. But as a businessman at heart, Silver understands the market is skyrocketing considering the history at stake for the Knicks.
Either way, players like Hart, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns aren’t focused on who will be in the building, even if the president of the United States is sitting courtside. They have been stoic in their responses despite their current 13-game winning streak, understanding that “the job is not done,” as the late great Kobe Bryant said when he was up 2-0 with the Los Angeles Lakers in a previous finals against the Orlando Magic in 2009.
New York Knicks guard Josh Hart reacts after making a basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second quarter of game two of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY on May 21, 2026. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pak Gazette APP
The Lakers didn’t end up sweeping Orlando, but they did finish the series in five games.
Meanwhile, the Spurs hope this series goes much longer than the one the Magic did 17 years ago. Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs will start against the Knicks at 8:30 pm ET on Monday night.
