Soaring ticket prices have priced several New York Knicks fans out of attending the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden.
However, Knicks legend Patrick Ewing made some young fans’ day on Monday by surprising them with tickets to Games 3 and 4 of the NBA Finals.
Patrick Ewing Surprises Young New York Knicks Fans With NBA Finals Tickets
With the cheapest tickets at Madison Square Garden costing upwards of $8,000, many fans are missing out on the opportunity to watch their beloved Knicks attempt to make history. Amid this, Ewing appeared on the TODAY Show alongside Knicks fan and actor Tracy Morgan to surprise young Knicks fans with 250 tickets to Games 3 and 4 of the NBA Finals.
The 11-time NBA All-Star and Morgan teamed up with the Garden of Dreams Foundation to hand out tickets to young fans. The foundation works with Madison Square Garden to empower kids in need by providing scholarships, mentorship, and career opportunities. The heartwarming moment took place outside the TODAY Plaza in New York.
“We have a surprise that you guys will be coming to the game tonight. Not only tonight, but also Wednesday night,” Ewing, who played for the Knicks from 1985 to 2000, said to cheers from young Knicks fans as he handed out tickets.
“What they don’t realize is that’s like a quarter of a million dollars,” TODAY Show co-host Craig Melvin said in response on the broadcast.
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Melvin’s comments reflect the sky-high costs of tickets at Madison Square Garden to watch the NBA Finals. Get-in prices for Game 3 start from $8,000, with the most expensive tickets costing upwards of $100,000.
There has been an unprecedented surge in demand for tickets even at these prices, as generations of lifelong Knicks fans look to watch the team’s historic run.
Even President Donald Trump and New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani will attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals tonight at Madison Square Garden. President Trump’s appearance will make him the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game.
The Knicks last played in the NBA Finals in 1999 and are looking to end a 53-year championship drought. However, they are 2-0 against the San Antonio Spurs and currently on a 13-game winning streak.
The Knicks-Spurs series continues with Game 3 tonight with tip-off at 8:30 p.m. ET. The atmosphere at Madison Square Garden will be electric as the Knicks will have the opportunity to put one hand on the Larry O’Brien Trophy with a Game 3 win.
