NYC Mayor Blames Hawks Star Trae Young for Knicks Playoff Ticket Prices

Young fires back at mayor's comments, citing past playoff matchup between teams

Apr. 17, 2026 at 10:53pm

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani jokingly blamed former Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young for the high prices of New York Knicks playoff tickets, even though Young was traded to the Washington Wizards earlier this year. Young responded on social media, referencing the Knicks' loss to the Hawks in the 2021 NBA playoffs.

Why it matters

The back-and-forth between the mayor and the NBA player highlights the ongoing rivalry between the Knicks and Hawks, as well as the challenges city leaders face in making major sporting events affordable for local fans.

The details

Mamdani was asked why Knicks playoff tickets are more expensive than Hawks tickets. He jokingly said he 'would say that I blame Trae Young, and I think it's always important to blame Trae Young.' Young, who was traded to the Wizards in January, caught wind of Mamdani's remarks and fired back on social media, referencing the Knicks' loss to the Hawks in the 2021 playoffs. This is not the first time a New York mayor has taken a shot at Young, as former mayor Bill de Blasio criticized him for 'hunting for fouls' during that 2021 playoff series.

  • The Knicks and Hawks are set to play in the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs.
  • The Knicks lost to the Hawks 4-1 in the first round of the 2021 NBA playoffs.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The current mayor of New York City.

Trae Young

A former star player for the Atlanta Hawks who was traded to the Washington Wizards in January 2026.

Bill de Blasio

The former mayor of New York City who criticized Trae Young during the 2021 playoff series between the Knicks and Hawks.

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What they’re saying

“I would say that I blame Trae Young, and I think it's always important to blame Trae Young.”

— Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City

“Remember what happened the last time the Mayor of that City has my name in his mouth during a time like this. #DontBlameMeWhenItHappensAgain”

— Trae Young

What’s next

The Knicks and Hawks will play the first game of their playoff series at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, April 19, 2026 at 6 p.m. ET.

The takeaway

The ongoing rivalry between the Knicks and Hawks, and the history of tensions between NBA players and New York City mayors, continues to be a source of drama and intrigue around the NBA playoffs. This back-and-forth highlights the challenges city leaders face in making major sporting events affordable and accessible for local fans.