New York NBA Basketball 2025-2026: Tickets and Best Prices

One of the most fascinating spectacles you can attend in the United States is an NBA game. Whether basketball is your passion or you just want to experience the excitement and electric atmosphere this sport creates in New York, it’s a unique experience you have to have at least once in your life.

There are two NBA teams in New York: the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets. Both compete from October through April during the regular season and from April through June in the playoffs if they qualify. Tickets for the new 2026–2027 season will soon be on sale. Don’t miss out!

The New York Knicks play at the legendary Madison Square Garden, located in the heart of Manhattan. Founded in 1946, they are one of the NBA’s most historic franchises and have just completed an unforgettable season: after returning to the Finals for the first time since 1999, they were crowned NBA champions in 2026, winning their first title since 1973.

Right now, in addition to their enormous media and symbolic influence within the league, they also stand out for their competitive level, with Jalen Brunson as the team’s star player and key contributors like Karl-Anthony Towns on a roster that has returned the Knicks to the elite of world basketball.

Top Games of the 2026–27 Season: Excitement Returns to Madison

Following a historic 2025–26 season—capped by the NBA championship, the franchise’s first since 1973—the Knicks head into the new season with the challenge of defending their title and continuing to make Madison Square Garden one of the premier venues in world basketball. For now, the franchise is in the midst of the offseason, with the Draft and free agency as the next milestones before the preseason and the start of the 2026-27 season are officially announced.

Although the official schedule has not yet been released, the atmosphere in New York will once again be spectacular following the team’s championship victory and the consolidation of a roster led by stars such as Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.

A few years ago, the Brooklyn Nets moved to a new arena and now play at the modern Barclays Center in Brooklyn. They’re in the midst of a rebuild with Jordi Fernández on the bench; their key players are Cam Thomas and Nic Claxton, supported by Cam Johnson. Although they don’t usually start as favorites, a thrilling game is still guaranteed.

Top Games of the 2026–27 Season: Rebuilding Underway and Young Talent to Develop

With no shot at the title, the franchise’s focus now shifts to the free-agent market, the draft lottery, and building the next roster—in an offseason that will be key to defining the next competitive step for the Brooklyn project.

NBA tickets can be purchased online quickly and easily. Hellotickets has a partnership with the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets to sell their tickets to fans anywhere in the world.

You can also buy tickets on game day at the box offices of major arenas, such as Madison Square Garden or the Barclays Center. However, this is not recommended for several reasons: limited availability, long lines at the ticket windows, and you’ll have few options when it comes to choosing seats.

Prices vary depending on the teams playing, but the average price is approximately €150 per ticket for both the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets. The lowest price is usually €50 for a less important game in a seat far from the court. The maximum price far exceeds 1,000 € for a courtside seat.

It’s very important to note that ticket prices change every day, just like the price of a plane ticket. If demand is high and few tickets remain, the price goes up; if demand isn’t met, the price goes down.

Prices also fluctuate throughout the season. The Knicks’ Christmas Day games are the most expensive of the year, as the city fills up with international and American tourists who want to go to Madison Square Garden. However, toward the end of the regular season (April), tickets are usually cheaper because fans of both teams prefer to wait for the playoffs.

To save money when buying NBA tickets while traveling to New York, it’s important to keep in mind that ticket prices change constantly. In other words, prices go up or down every day depending on demand, just like airline tickets.

The problem is that the Knicks and the Nets have most of the arena’s seats sold to season ticket holders before the season even starts. Therefore, tickets often sell out, so demand is always high. With this in mind, there are a few things you can do to save money.

Buy tickets in advance

The most important way to save on NBA ticket prices is to buy tickets as far in advance as possible. Tickets for the Knicks and the Nets go on sale in mid-August, and that’s when prices are at their lowest for all games of the season. If possible, this is the best time to buy them. This is similar to booking a flight or a hotel.

If there are still more than two months left before the game, ticket prices will have changed, but they won’t have gone up significantly yet.

The biggest problem is if there are less than two weeks left: in that case, you’ll have no choice but to pay a higher price, since demand will be high and few tickets will be available.

Choose a Less Attractive Opponent

Another key factor in determining ticket prices is who the Knicks or the Nets are playing. A game against one of the league’s top teams or one of the most famous ones (like the Lakers) can cost up to three times as much as a game against a lesser-known team. Obviously, the big games are in highest demand, but if the experience is what matters most to you and you have some flexibility with your dates, you can save money by attending a less attractive game.

Choose a seat behind the basket

The final tip for saving money is to choose a seat that offers a good experience without being overly expensive. Seats behind the basket (regardless of whether you’re close to or far from the court) are always cheaper than seats on the sidelines at Madison Square Garden or the Barclays Center.

However, the best value for money is found in the corner seats. These tickets offer an acceptable viewing angle and are significantly cheaper than a ticket in the center of the sideline.

A New York Knicks ticket costs an average of 148 € per ticket. The lowest price is 52 € for a less important game toward the end of the season.

The most expensive time during the regular season (before the playoffs) to see the Knicks is around Christmas, as that’s when demand is highest. If they qualify for the playoffs, the average price ranges from 200 € for the first round to an estimated 1,000 € if they make it to the NBA Finals.

A ticket to see the Brooklyn Nets costs an average of 172 € per ticket. The lowest price is 55 €, typically when the opponent is less appealing and there’s nothing at stake toward the end of the regular season, just before the playoffs.

The average cost of a playoff ticket to see the Nets is 225 € in the first round, and it’s estimated to cost around 850 € if they make it to the NBA Finals.

The only way to avoid counterfeit tickets is to buy from official websites, such as Hellotickets. There are websites run by companies that sell unauthorized resale tickets. Not all of their tickets cause problems, but there’s a chance they could be duplicates, and even if you get a refund later, you won’t be able to enter the arena.

There are also people outside the arena offering tickets. They don’t do it openly; instead, they walk up to fans and discreetly ask if anyone is looking for tickets.

These tickets are always counterfeit. Their modus operandi involves taking you to a secluded spot to collect payment in cash. By the time you’re turned away at the entrance, that scalper will have disappeared with your money.

Your NBA game experience will depend largely on the seat you choose when buying your ticket. Although basketball arenas have a smaller capacity than soccer stadiums, they’re enormous venues relative to the size of the court, and a seat in the back rows is actually quite far from the players.

What are the best seats at Madison Square Garden?

The best seats at Madison Square Garden are in sections 1 through 12. In the corners or behind the basket (sections 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, and 9), you’ll experience the game up close, and even though you might not see the action perfectly, the experience is fantastic. The 100 sections are also highly rated because they offer the best way to enjoy basketball while still being close to the court.

What are the best seats at the Barclays Center?

The best seats at the Barclays Center are in sections 1 through 31. The corner sections—which offer a good balance between price and view—are 3, 13, 19, and 29. It’s better to choose one of the back rows in these sections than one of the front rows in the 200s.

When booking tickets on the Hellotickets website, you’ll be able to view an interactive map and select the seats that interest you most based on how close you want to be to the court. You can compare different prices and see an image to get an idea of the distance to the court.

New York hosts 82 NBA games from October through April: 41 New York Knicks games at Madison Square Garden and another 41 Brooklyn Nets games at the Barclays Center. If either team qualifies for the playoffs, the number will be higher.

Yes. During the 2026–2027 NBA season, both the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets will play several home games over the Christmas holidays. The league schedules games between December 20 and January 2, so it’s almost certain that at least one game will coincide with your trip.

In addition, the NBA hosts very special Christmas games, with a unique atmosphere at Madison Square Garden or the Barclays Center, making basketball part of the holiday experience in New York.

Unfortunately, no, since the NBA regular season begins in October and ends in April, and the playoffs wrap up in June.

If you’re traveling to New York in the summer and want an alternative to the NBA to experience American sports, you can go see the New York Yankees or the New York Mets—two baseball teams that are in the middle of their season during the summer. Baseball teams in NYC play a lot of games, so it’s easy to catch one. You might not even like baseball, but you’re guaranteed to experience the classic scene of baseball caps, the national anthem, and hot dogs.

You can buy tickets for the New York Yankees here and tickets for the New York Mets here.

Alternatively, if you’re traveling in late August or September, the football season will already be underway. The New York Giants and the New York Jets play in New York. There aren’t many games, but you can check if any dates work for you at this link for Giants tickets and this one for Jets tickets.

The preseason (early October)

NBA teams play between five and eight preseason games, which are usually held between the first and third weeks of October, to get in shape for the start of the regular season.
Buying NBA tickets to watch these games is usually more affordable, although the intensity is lower and many stars play fewer minutes.

The NBA regular season (October 2026 – April 2027)

During this period, each team plays 82 games, roughly one every two days. There are key dates during the regular season that you should mark on your calendar:

NBA Playoffs (April–early June 2027)

After the regular season, the top 16 teams (8 from the Eastern Conference and 8 from the Western Conference) face off in best-of-seven playoff series: quarterfinals, semifinals, and conference finals.

Last season, the New York Knicks reached the Eastern Conference Finals; the Brooklyn Nets did not qualify for the playoffs (26-56).

NBA Finals (June 2027)

With only two teams remaining, the battle for the championship begins. The Finals are played in a best-of-seven series and are the most anticipated sporting event of the year in the U.S., alongside the Super Bowl.

Tickets for these games are the most expensive of the entire season and still sell out quickly.

With all that in mind, if you’re traveling to the city before the regular season starts—that is, during the preseason—I recommend checking the teams’ preseason schedules, as they usually play exhibition games in early October.

However, NBA games taking place in New York are only guaranteed between October and April. Beyond that, it all depends on whether the New York Knicks or the Brooklyn Nets have qualified for the playoffs and, ultimately, the NBA Finals.

The NBA is a very family-friendly event, but when it comes to whether children pay for admission, the truth is that it depends on each team. In the case of the New York Knicks, Madison Square Garden’s policy states that children who are two years old or older must have their own ticket.

As for the Brooklyn Nets, according to the Barclays Center’s policy for all sporting events, children up to 34 inches tall—that is, 86.36 centimeters—can enter the Barclays Center for free but must share a seat with an adult who has a ticket and is accompanying them. Any child who does not meet this height requirement will need a ticket to enter the arena and must occupy their own ticketed seat.

If you’re going to the arena with children under two years old, bring proof of their age in case you’re asked for it at the entrance. Valid forms of identification include a birth certificate or a passport.

When to go to the arena?

NBA game days in New York are a special experience. You can feel it in the atmosphere, and the streets are even busier than usual in the Big Apple. My advice is not to arrive at the last minute. Inside the arena, there are fast-food restaurants, snack bars, and souvenir shops where you can browse while you wait—and you don’t want to miss the national anthem.

Madison Square Garden is in the heart of Manhattan, so you can walk there if you’re strolling around the area after visiting another nearby tourist attraction. On the other hand, getting to the Barclays Center will take a little longer if you take public transportation, so it’s a good idea to factor in traffic or rush hour to ensure you arrive at the arena without rushing. Here’s the New York City subway guide.

On game day, I recommend arriving at least an hour early so you can take your time, go through security, find your seats, soak up the pre-game atmosphere with the music and the cheerleaders’ dances, listen to the U.S. national anthem before the game starts, and watch the players take the court. It’s like something out of a movie!

Can you bring backpacks or cameras into the arena?

According to Madison Square Garden’s policy, bringing backpacks or unnecessary bags into the arena is discouraged. All bags will undergo strict security screening, which may delay entry into the arena. Additionally, video cameras, audio recording devices, professional cameras (including those with telephoto or zoom lenses), selfie sticks, and tripods are not permitted.

As for the Barclays Center, according to its admission policy, backpacks or bags larger than 10”x6”x2” or with rigid sides will not be permitted. Professional camera equipment, audio and/or video recording devices, selfie sticks, and tripods are also prohibited.

Where can you eat before or after the game?

There are many food and drink stands inside the arena, but prices are significantly higher than outside. For example, a bottle of water can cost around $5, a hot dog about $7, and a soda approximately $6.50.

Since you’re not allowed to bring your own food or drinks into the stadium, my advice is that if you’re hungry before the game starts, grab a bite at one of the restaurants around Madison Square Garden or the Barclays Center—such as Shake Shack or Five Guys. Or wait until the game is over to head there, celebrate your team’s victory, and treat yourself.

Although the NBA is one of the most popular sports in the world, last-minute questions can always come up.

How long does an NBA game last?

Officially, it lasts 48 minutes (4 quarters of 12 minutes each), but between breaks, timeouts, and halftime, most games usually last 2 hours or more. After the first two quarters, there’s a 15-minute halftime break, which you can use to grab a bite to eat or use the restroom.

I don’t have an internet connection in New York! How do I access my tickets?

If you don’t have an internet connection during your trip to New York, you can always use the Wi-Fi at your hotel to access your tickets so they’re ready on your phone when you arrive at the arena. You can also go to any public place, such as a café or restaurant near the arena, since they offer free Wi-Fi.