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The New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks will play in the first round of the NBA playoffs and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was asked why it is so much more expensive to attend Knicks playoff games compared to the Hawks.
Mamdani jokingly cited Knicks foe Trae Young, who starred for the Hawks when they beat the Knicks in the first round of the 2021 playoffs, as the reason for the expensive tickets.
“I would say I blame Trae Young, and I think it’s always important to blame Trae Young,” Mamdani said at a press conference.
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(Left) Washington Wizards guard Trae Young (3) is on the court against the Utah Jazz in the second half at Capital One Arena in Washington, District of Columbia, on March 5, 2026. (Right) New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani attends a press conference discussing New York City’s first quarter crime statistics in New York, New York, on April 2, 2026. (Geoff Burke/Imagn Images; Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Mamdani blamed Young, who was traded to the Washington Wizards in January. Although Young is not with the Hawks, he heard about Mamdani’s comments and responded to the mayor.
“Remember what happened the last time the mayor of that city had my name in his mouth during a moment like this. #DontBlameMeWhenItHappensAgain,” Young posted on X with a laughing-crying emoji and a hand emoji.
Regardless of whether Mamdani knows Young is no longer a member of the Hawks, this is not the first time the New York City mayor has shaded Young, as Bill de Blasio told Young to stop calling fouls during that 2021 playoff series.
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani delivers a speech at the Service Employees International Union 32BJ SEIU rally on Park Avenue in Manhattan on April 15, 2026. (Selçuk Acar/Anadolu)
The Hawks defeated the Knicks 4-1 in that series. The Knicks lost that series as a No. 4 seed, while the Hawks were the No. 5 seed.
This time, the Knicks are third and the Hawks are sixth in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
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Washington Wizards guard Trae Young (3) meets with the media during his first return to play against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on Feb. 24, 2026. (Dale Zanine/Image Images)
Mamdani said he is “still confident and hopeful” that the Knicks will win a championship this season, and wishes playoff tickets were more affordably priced.
The Knicks play the series opener against the Hawks at Madison Square Garden at 6 pm ET on Saturday.
