"Ridiculous": Jalen Brunson's Knicks Teammate Blasts MSG Ticket Prices For Game 3

The New York Knicks are bringing the NBA Finals back to Madison Square Garden for the first time in 27 years. Unfortunately for many fans who waited decades to witness this moment, getting inside the building has become nearly impossible.

With the Knicks carrying a 2-0 series lead into Game 3, ticket prices on the secondary market have exploded to historic levels. Knicks forward Josh Hart admitted he feels for the fans who have been priced out of one of the biggest nights in franchise history.

Speaking to reporters ahead of Game 3, Knicks forward Josh Hart acknowledged the excitement surrounding the team's return home but couldn't help focusing on the fans being left behind by the soaring prices.

"The atmosphere is gonna be electric, obviously. We're happy that we're at home and we have them at our back," Hart said. "I kinda wish the ticket prices weren't as crazy as they are."

"A lof of people who have been waiting for this moment for a very long time unfortunately aren't able to get into the building," he added. "The cheapest ticket is 7 to 8 thousand dollars. That's ridiculous. It'll still be rocking, but obviously, wish it's a little cheaper."

Hart's frustration reflects just how quickly the market has spiraled. Before the Finals began, Game 3 tickets were already starting around $3,400, setting a record for the most expensive home playoff tickets in NBA history.

After the Knicks won the first two games in San Antonio, demand surged even further. Reports now place the cheapest Game 3 seats between $7,000 and $9,000, with some listings climbing even higher.

The gap between New York and San Antonio has become staggering. Spurs home tickets for Game 2 started at roughly $600, while some premium seats for Game 3 at Madison Square Garden have already crossed the $100,000 mark.

The combination of a 27-year Finals drought, a 2-0 series lead, and the possibility of witnessing a championship celebration at Madison Square Garden has created one of the hottest ticket markets the NBA has ever seen.

Hart understands that regardless of the price tag, Madison Square Garden will be deafening when Game 3 tips off. Still, his comments highlighted the bittersweet reality of the moment. Many of the fans who waited decades to see the Knicks back on this stage may have to experience it from outside the arena.

"The cheapest ticket is 7 to 8 thousand dollars. That's ridiculous," Hart said. For one of the NBA's most passionate fan bases, that number says everything.

For the Knicks, winning a title is a long-awaited opportunity. In fact, this moment was over half a century in the making.

Why Knicks Fans Are Paying Record Prices

The unprecedented demand is easy to understand. Madison Square Garden is hosting its first NBA Finals game since 1999, and the Knicks are just two wins away from ending a championship drought that stretches back to 1973.

That combination has created a perfect storm. Longtime fans have waited decades for a moment like this, while New York's celebrity-heavy crowd and secondary ticket market have pushed prices to levels rarely seen in professional sports.

Even with many fans unable to afford a seat inside the arena, the expectation remains that Madison Square Garden will deliver one of the loudest environments of the season. After a 27-year wait for Finals basketball, demand has simply outgrown supply.