The Washington Wizards ended the NBA season with the league’s poorest record, yet their standout player, Trae Young, continues to occupy the minds of New York’s most passionate fans.
Five years since Young, now 27, dazzled the Knicks in the 2021 playoffs with the Atlanta Hawks, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani still tends to hold him accountable for the Knicks’ playoff woes.
“I would say that I blame Trae Young,” Mamdani, 34, remarked during a press conference on Thursday, April 16, when questioned about the exorbitant costs of Knicks playoff tickets. “And I think it’s always important to blame Trae Young.”
Young became aware of the mayor’s remarks and issued a cautionary response via X.
“Remember what happened the last time the Mayor of that City had my name in his mouth during a time like this… 😂✋🏽. #DontBlameMeWhenItHappensAgain,” Young wrote.
He was referring to when former New York Mayor Bill de Blasio donned a Knicks cap in 2021 and sent Young a message about playing basketball “the right way.”
“I have an important official announcement,” de Blasio, 64, declared at the time. “This is very serious and I want to get this out. Message to Trae Young on behalf of the people of New York City and anyone who cares about actually playing basketball the right way. Stop hunting for fouls, Trae.”
He added, “I want to quote Steve Nash, one of the great players, great coach. He says, quote unquote, ‘That’s not basketball.’ Trae, Trae, that hawk’s not going to fly in New York City. Come on. Play the game the right way, see if you can win. I think the Knicks are going to teach you a lesson.”
The Hawks defeated the Knicks 3 games to 1 in their playoff series, with Young averaging nearly 30 points per game and clinching the game-winner in Game 1 with under a second remaining.
As the Knicks prepare to host the Hawks once more in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, Mamdani also expressed his views on the soaring ticket prices for Madison Square Garden, noting that the entry price for Game 1 was $346 per ticket as of Friday morning, April 17, according to SeatGeek.
“We have seen sports become more and more of a luxury commodity and that is not what it always used to be,” Mamdani observed. “I think it just speaks to the many ways in which New Yorkers, time and again, are being pushed out of the very things that give them so much joy. I am still confident and hopeful of a championship this year.”
The Hawks and Knicks will meet in Game 1 of their playoff series on Saturday, April 18 at 6 p.m. ET.
