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The NBA Finals are returning 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 says it is “ridiculous” to see thousands of dollars spent on a single ticket to enter “Mecca”.
Josh Hart spoke with reporters before the start of Game 3 Monday night in The Garden, where he was asked about ticket prices for Games 3 and 4 scheduled for this week.
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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/Imagn 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 really long time unfortunately can’t get into the building. “The cheapest ticket is $7,000, $8,000. It’s ridiculous.”
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Tickets soared after the Knicks held on to beat the Spurs, 105-104, to extend their series lead to 2-0 heading into Game 3. Over the weekend, the price of entry into secondary ticket markets reached $10,000.
Tickets have since dwindled, with some pointing to the fact that President Donald Trump plans to attend Game 3. There will be increased security measures and heavy restrictions on what fans can bring inside the arena, with the Knicks saying in a statement that they should arrive at the Garden about two hours before tipoff to “allow additional time for screening and entry.”
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The screening could be similar to that of a TSA line at an airport.
Trump was also asked about ticket prices this weekend, and his response was very different from Hart’s.
“They can watch it on TV,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One Friday after being asked about tickets to the game he is expected to attend.
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters Friday while visiting Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images))
“It’s sort of semi-free to watch it on TV. That’s how life goes,” he added.
Monday night would mark another major sporting event that Trump has participated in since he was sworn in for his second term. He was at the Super Bowl in New Orleans two NFL seasons ago, while also competing in the Daytona 500 and the Ryder Cup.
For the Knicks, there is the possibility of a sweep in the best-of-seven series as they continue to face the Spurs in their building this time. Game 4 would potentially be a championship decider, and ticket prices also matched the timing.
The price of entry, per Gametime, is $10,097 as of Sunday night, and the maximum is $110,964.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver even commented on the price of tickets to the Finals, calling it “frustrating” that more people can’t afford to attend. But as a businessman at heart, Silver understands the market is booming given the historic stakes for the Knicks.
Regardless, 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 were stoic in their responses despite their current 13-game winning streak, understanding that “the work is not done,” as the late, great Kobe Bryant said when leading the Los Angeles Lakers 2-0 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 2 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)
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The Lakers didn’t end up sweeping Orlando, but they did finish the series in five games.
The Spurs, meanwhile, hope to make this streak much longer than the Magic did 17 years ago. Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs will face the Knicks at 8:30 p.m. ET on Monday night.
