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

One of the most exciting events you can attend in the United States is an NBA game. Whether basketball is your passion or you simply 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 2025–2026 season are already on sale. Don’t miss out!

The New York Knicks play at the legendary Madison Square Garden, located in the heart of Manhattan. The team was founded in 1946 and is one of the oldest in the league. Although they’ve only won two titles (the last one in… 1973!), they’re the most famous team in the NBA. Plus, it’s finally a pleasure to watch them play: they made the playoffs last season and have superstars like point guard Jalen Brunson and starting center Karl-Anthony Towns.

Best games of the 2025-26 season: excitement returns to Madison

After a spectacular 2024-25 season—with 51 wins, a playoff berth, and a run to the **Eastern Conference Finals—**the Knicks return hungry for more. The new season kicks off on October 21, 2025, and the arrival of new additions like Guerschon Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson, alongside the core of Brunson, Bridges, and Towns, promises to fill Madison Square Garden with energy and excitement.

Here are the best NBA games at Madison Square Garden for the new season. Don’t miss out on your ticket to experience it!

• April 18, 2026: New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks (Playoffs, first round). The official start of the playoffs at Madison Square Garden for the Knicks, who begin the series as the third seed in the East, with the first game already confirmed for April 18 and a series that, if it goes the distance, could extend into late April or even early May.
• Late April or early May 2026: New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers or Toronto Raptors (possible conference semifinal). If New York advances past Atlanta, their next opponent would come from the series between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors, in an Eastern Conference semifinal set to begin sometime between late April and early May—already carrying the intensity and significance typical of the big nights of the postseason

The Brooklyn Nets moved to a new arena a few years ago and now play at the modern Barclays Center in Brooklyn. They are rebuilding under head coach Jordi Fernández; their key players are Cam Thomas and Nic Claxton, supported by Cam Johnson. Although they rarely start as favorites, a thrilling game is guaranteed.

Best games of the 2025-26 season: a fresh start, young prospects

With no presence in the title race, 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 project in Brooklyn.

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 worldwide.

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 windows, and you’ll have little choice in selecting 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 minimum price is usually €50 for a less important game and a seat far from the court. The maximum price easily exceeds €1,000 for a courtside seat.

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

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 a plane ticket.

The problem is that the Knicks and the Nets have most of the arena sold to their 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 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 there will be high demand and few tickets available.

Choose a less attractive opponent

Another key factor in determining ticket prices is the Knicks’ or Nets’ opponent. A game against one of the league’s top teams or one of the most famous ones (like the Lakers) can be up to three times more expensive than a game against a lesser-known team. Obviously, the big games are the ones in highest demand, but if what matters to you is the experience and you have some flexibility with 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 but isn’t 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 seats are those located in the corners. 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 up to an estimated €1,000 if they reach the NBA Finals.

A ticket to see the Brooklyn Nets has an average price of €172 per ticket. The minimum price is €55, if the opponent is unattractive and there is nothing at stake at 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 is estimated to cost around €850 if they reach the NBA Finals.

The only way to avoid fake 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 is a chance they could be duplicates, and even if they later refund your money, 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 past 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 stopped at the entrance, that scalper will have vanished with your money.

Your NBA game experience will largely depend on the seat you choose when buying your ticket. Although basketball arenas have a smaller capacity than soccer stadiums, they are massive 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 experience the game up close, and while 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 that offer the best value for money are sections 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 can 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 check the different prices and see an image to get an idea of the distance to the court.

There are 82 NBA games played in New York 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 would be higher.

Yes. During the 2025-2026 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.

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

Unfortunately, no, since the NBA regular season starts 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 ton 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 21, 2025 – April 15, 2026)

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 18 – early June 2026)

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 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 4–18, 2026)

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. From there, it all depends on whether the New York Knicks or the Brooklyn Nets have managed to qualify for the playoffs and, ultimately, for 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 have turned two years old must have their own ticket.

As for the Brooklyn Nets, according to the Barclays Center 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 seat with a ticket.

If you are going to the arena with children under two years of age, bring proof of the children’s age with you in case it is requested at the entrance. Valid forms of identification include a birth certificate or a passport.

When to go to the stadium?

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, snack, 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 exploring the area after visiting another nearby tourist attraction. On the other hand, getting to the Barclays Center will take a bit longer if you take public transportation, so it’s best to factor in traffic or rush hour to ensure you arrive at the arena without rushing. Here’s the New York 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 national anthem before the game starts, and watch the players enter the court. It’s like something out of a movie!

Can you bring backpacks or cameras?

According to Madison Square Garden’s policy, bringing unnecessary backpacks or bags into the arena is discouraged. All items will undergo strict security screening, which may delay entry. 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 access 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, and selfie sticks and tripods are also prohibited.

Where to 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 where you can 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 one at your hotel to open your tickets there 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 stadium, since they have free Wi-Fi.