Zohran Mamdani made a playful attempt to overshadow the New York Knicks’ notorious rival.
However, Trae Young, the former Atlanta Hawks star, wasn’t going to let that slide without a challenge.
On Thursday, the New York mayor was questioned about the steep ticket prices at Madison Square Garden for the Knicks’ opening playoff series against the Hawks, compared to the more affordable entry cost at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena.
Before delving into a detailed response, the democratic socialist humorously pointed fingers at Young, once the Hawks’ formidable player.
“Firstly, I would say that I blame Trae Young,” Mamdani quipped, eliciting laughter from the audience. “It’s always crucial to blame Trae Young,” he added with a grin.
Following the light-hearted jab, Mamdani offered a more serious take, expressing concern over sports becoming a “luxury commodity.” He voiced his wish for ticket prices to be “far more affordable.” As of Thursday evening, the most inexpensive ticket available on Ticketmaster for Saturday’s Game 1 at MSG was $353. In contrast, fans could attend Game 3 in Atlanta next Thursday for just $84.
The Post’s request for comment from the Knicks and Madison Square Garden was not immediately returned.
All the while, Young, the former Hawk who was traded in the middle of the season to the Wizards, clapped back at New York for what went down in 2021 — and how then-Mayor Bill de Blasio joined the fray.
“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 in response on X.
During those playoffs, Young became a thorn in the side of Knicks — and their passionate fans — when he dropped 32 points, including the final-second game-winner, in the opening contest.
De Blasio, during a press briefing shortly after Game 1, specifically called out Young.
“This is very serious, want to get this message to Trae Young on behalf of the people for New York City and anybody that cares about playing basketball the right way: Stop hunting for fouls, Trae,” de Blasio said.
The message really didn’t work, as Young finished the series by averaging 29.2 points and 9.8 assists as the Knicks were eliminated in five games. Memorably, though, Knicks fans continually chanted “F–k Trae Young,” something that still continues to this day.
During the 2024-25 season, Young further entrenched himself as a villain when he helped close out the Knicks in the NBA Cup quarterfinals before stepping on New York’s logo at midcourt before mimicking rolling a dice, meaning his team advanced to Las Vegas and the Knicks had not.
The Wizards did not qualify for the playoffs, so Young’s next chance to play the Knicks will come next season, whether he remains with the Wizards (he has a player option for 2026-27) or not.
