New York NBA Basketball [Season 2024-2025]: Tickets and Best Prices

One of the most fascinating spectacles you can attend in the United States is an NBA game. Whether it is because basketball is your passion or because you want to experience the madness and the atmosphere that this sport awakens in New York, it is a unique sensation that you have to experience 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 to April in the regular season and from April to June in the playoffs if they qualify. For their part, the New York Liberty, who compete in the WNBA, also ensure a basketball spectacle in the city. The 2024-2025 season is already underway and the predictions promise good results for the New York teams. Don't miss it!

The New York Knicks play at the legendary Madison Square Garden, located in downtown Manhattan. The team was founded in 1946 and is the longest-running team. Although they have only won two titles (the last one in... 1972!), they are the most famous team in the NBA. Moreover, they are finally a pleasure to watch them play: last season they reached the playoffs and have superstars like power forward Julius Randle or point guard Jalen Brunson, who are also expected to continue in the 2024-2025 season.

Key games to watch the Knicks in New York [24-25 Season]

If you have the opportunity to travel to New York you will like to know which are the most recommended games of the 24-25 season that the Knicks will play at Madison Square Garden.

Although there are preseason games whose tickets you can also buy in Hellotickets, the Knicks kick off the Regular Season on October 25, 2024, but also highlights the Christmas and Easter games. You can see the complete schedule in this link, but here are the main games:

• Friday, October 25, 2024: New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers. First game of the promising 24-25 season.
• Sunday, November 17, 2024: New York Knicks vs. Brooklyn Nets. The big derby.
• Wednesday, December 25, 2024: New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs Christmas Day game, facing Victor Wembanyama. tickets are flying!
• Friday, April 11, 2025: New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers. Last game of the season as they await their possible playoff berth, which is close to Easter.

The Brooklyn Nets a few years ago changed courts and now play at the modern Barclays Center in Brooklyn. They have arguably the best defensive squad in the NBA with Cam Johnson as the franchise player of the season. Although they do not start as favorites in the 24-25 season, the show is still guaranteed.

Key games to watch the Nets in New York [24-25 Season]

Although underperforming, the Nets have promising players and a fast-paced, exciting style of play. If you're thinking about going to see them play a game, take a look at the Nets schedule, though the fastest selling tickets to see the Nets at Barclays Center this season are for the following games:

• Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024: Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics. First game of the season for the Nets against last season's league winners.
• Friday, December 27, 2024: Brooklyn Nets vs. San Antonio Spurs. The expected Wembanyama at Barclays Center.
• Sunday, April 13, 2025: Brooklyn Nets vs. New York Knicks. The regular league will bid farewell giving fans another chance to see the derby at the Nets' home stadium.

Women's basketball has its greatest exponent in New York with the New York Liberty, a team that attracts crowds at the Barclays Center. Founded in 1997, they were one of the first 8 teams to play in the WNBA.

Last season they reached the league finals propelled by players like Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones, a trio that has elevated the team's competitive level from the bottom of the league to their first title in 2023, the Commissioner's Cup. They will be among the top favorites in the WNBA in the 24-25 season.

Best upcoming games to watch for the Liberty in New York [24-25 Season]

The WNBA season, including playoffs, generally concludes in early to mid-October. In 2024, the WNBA Finals, which determine the league champion, are expected to be played in early October. You still have time to see this season come to an end, which already leaves the best start in history for the New York Liberty.

• Sunday, September 8, 2024: New York Liberty vs. Las Vegas Aces. A rematch of the 2023 Finals
• Wednesday, September 18, 2024: New York Liberty vs. Washington Mystics. Key game for playoff position
• Sunday, September 22, 2024: New York Liberty vs. Dallas Wings. Crucial game against an emerging team
• Sunday, October 6, 2024: New York Liberty vs. Connecticut Sun. Last game of the regular season with an impact on the standings.

Tickets for the NBA can be purchased online easily and quickly. Hellotickets has an agreement with the New York Knicks, the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Liberty to sell tickets for fans from all over the world.

At the ticket offices of major stadiums, such as Madison Square Garden or the Barclays Center, you can also buy tickets on the day of the game. But this is not recommended for several reasons: limited availability, long lines at the ticket counters and you will have little choice of seats.

The price varies depending on the teams playing each other, but the average price is about 150 ¤ per ticket for both the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets. The minimum price is usually 50 € for an unimportant game and in a seat far from the court. The maximum price is well over 1.000 € for a courtside seat.

Something very important is that ticket prices change every day, just like the price of a plane ticket. If there is more demand and there are few tickets left, the price is more expensive, while if the demand is not met, the price will go down.

The price also fluctuates throughout the season. The games played by the Knicks at Christmas are the most expensive of the year, as the city fills up with international and American tourists who want to go to Madison. However, towards the end of the regular season (April), they are usually cheaper because fans of both teams prefer to wait for the playoffs.

For the case of the WNBA and the New York Liberty, generally, prices start around 30 euros for cheaper seats and can go up to 150 euros or more for premium seats close to the court. These prices can change depending on the opponent and the stage of the season, such as the playoffs, where prices are usually higher due to higher demand.

To save when buying NBA tickets when you travel to New York it is important to keep in mind that ticket prices are constantly changing. That is, every day prices go up or down depending on demand just like a plane ticket.

The problem is that the Knicks and Nets have most of the stadium sold out to their season ticket holders before the season starts. Therefore, it is not uncommon for tickets to sell out, so demand is always high. With this in mind, there are a few things you can do to save.

Buy tickets in advance

The most important one to save on NBA ticket prices is to buy tickets as far in advance as possible. Knicks and Nets tickets go on sale in mid-August and that's when their 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 to go before the game, ticket prices will have changed, but will not yet have experienced a big increase.

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

Choosing a less attractive opponent

Another essential factor in determining the price of the game is the Knicks' or Nets' opponent. A game against one of the best teams in the league or one of the most famous teams (such as the Lakers) can be up to 3 times more expensive than a game against a lesser team. Obviously the big games are the ones that are most in demand, but if you care about the experience and have some flexibility with dates you can save by attending a less attractive game.

Choose the seat behind the basket

The final savings tip is to choose a seat that offers a good experience but is not overly expensive. The price of seats behind the basket (no matter if you are near or far from the court) are always cheaper than seats on the side of Madison Square Garden or the Barclays Center.

However, the best seats in terms of value for money are those located in the corners. These tickets have a decent viewing angle and the price is significantly cheaper than a ticket in the center of the sideline.

A ticket for the New York Knicks has an average cost of 148 ¤ per ticket. The minimum price is 52 € if it is an unimportant game towards the end of the season.

The most expensive time of the regular season (before playoffs) to go to see the Knicks is at Christmas, as this is when there is the highest demand. 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 Brooklyn Nets ticket 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 go all the way to the NBA Finals.

The only way to avoid fake tickets is to buy from official websites, such as Hellotickets. There are websites of companies that sell unauthorized resale tickets. Not all of their tickets are a problem, but there is a possibility that they will be duplicated and, even if they later return the money, you will not be able to enter the stadium.

There are also people outside the stadium who offer tickets. They do not do this openly, but pass by fans and discreetly ask if anyone is looking for tickets.

These tickets are always fake. Their modus operandi is to take you to a secluded place to collect the tickets in cash. By the time they have blocked you trying to gain access, that scalper has disappeared with your money.

The NBA game experience will largely depend on the seat you choose when you buy your ticket. Although basketball arenas have less capacity than a soccer arena, they are huge venues for how small the arena is and a ticket in the back rows is really far away 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 get to experience the game up close and although you don't get a good view of the game, the experience is fantastic. The 100 sections are also highly valued because they are the best place to enjoy basketball and are still close to the court.

What are the best seats at the Barclays Center?

The best seats at the Barclays Center are between sections 1 and 31. The corner sections, which offer a good relationship between price and how the game is viewed are 3, 13, 19 and 29. It is preferable one of the last rows in these sections than one of the first in sections 200.

When booking tickets on the Hellotickets website: you can view an interactive map and select the seats you are most interested in depending on how close you want to be to the court. You will be able to check the different prices and see an image to give you 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 and 41 Brooklyn Nets games. If either team qualifies for the playoffs, the number would be higher.

The WNBA regular season consists of 40 games for each team. The New York Liberty play about half of those games at home, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. This means that there are about 20 WNBA games played in New York during the regular season. This number can increase if the team advances to the playoffs and has home field advantage.

Yes, it is indeed one of the most popular times of the season and the atmosphere is spectacular. The NBA makes sure that all teams, including the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets, play several games in their city during Christmas, so it is almost certain that during the trip there will be at least one game.

24-25 Season: Knicks' big game

Don't miss out on a special game this season that will take place on December 25, 2024. The New York Knicks will take on the San Antonio Spurs, with a chance to see the league's newest sensation, Victor Wembanyama, in action. This holiday game is an NBA tradition and promises to be an unforgettable spectacle.

Unfortunately not, since the NBA regular season starts in October and ends in April, and the playoffs end in June.

If you are traveling in the summer to New York 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 mid-season in the summer. Baseball teams in NYC play a lot of games, so it's easy to catch one of them. You may not even like baseball, but you're sure to get the typical cap, anthem and hot dog look.

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

Alternatively, if you travel at the end of August or in September, the soccer season will have already started. In New York the New York Giants and the New York Jets are playing. There are few games but you can check if any date fits you in this link for Giants tickets and in this link for Jets tickets.

The New York Liberty do play in the summer

The WNBA regular season generally runs from May through September, which means there are numerous home and away games during the summer months. Games at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn offer a great opportunity to see the Liberty in action during this time of year.

The preseason (early October)

NBA teams typically play five to eight games in the preseason, which usually lasts just over three weeks, to gauge their strength for the start of the league. Buying NBA tickets to watch these games is usually cheaper, although it is true that the quality of the games is lower, as the teams are not yet in full swing and often reserve their stars.

NBA Regular Season (mid-October - early April)

During these months each team plays 82 games, one every two days. During the regular season there are several dates that, because they are crucial games, you will have to mark on your calendar:

NBA Playoffs (Mid-April - early June)

Once the regular season games are over, the 16 best teams in the NBA start the playoffs for the title: 8 teams from the Eastern Conference and 8 teams from the Western Conference will face each other.

The Playoffs are best-of-7 games and before reaching the NBA Finals there are three rounds: quarterfinals, semifinals and conference finals. These playoffs usually last almost two months and at the end only the two conference winners are left to fight for the NBA title in the Finals.

Last season, both the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets qualified for the Playoffs.

NBA Finals (June)

Only one winner can remain. With 2 teams still standing out of the 16 that made the Playoffs, the NBA Finals begin, played as a best-of-seven game once again. These games are, without a doubt, the most anticipated and the best of the year as the protagonists are the two best teams in the United States.

But unsurprisingly, tickets for these NBA games are the most expensive of the entire season. And yet they sell out quickly because it is, besides the Superbowl, the sporting event of the year in the United States.

Knowing all of the above, if you are traveling to the city before the regular season starts, i.e. during the preseason, I advise you to take a look at the preseason schedule of the teams because they usually play friendly games in early October.

But the NBA games that will take place in New York are only assured between the months of October to April. After 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 spectacle, but when asked if children pay admission, the truth is that it depends on the team. In the case of the New York Knicks, Madison Square Garden's policy says that children who have reached the age of two must have a ticket.

As for the Brooklyn Nets, according to the Barclays Center stadium for all sporting events, children up to 34" inches tall, or 86.36 centimeters, can access the Barclays Center for free but must share a seat with a ticketed adult who accompanies them. Any child who does not meet this height requirement will require a ticket to access the stadium and must occupy their ticketed seat only.

If you are going to the stadium with children under the age of two, bring proof of the children's age with you in case you are asked to do so at the entrance. Valid forms of identification are a birth certificate or passport.

When to go to the stadium?

NBA days in New York are special. You can feel it in the atmosphere and there is more hustle and bustle in the streets than usual in the Big Apple. My advice is not to arrive too early. Inside the stadium there are fast food, snack and souvenir stores that you can browse while you make time and also, you do not want to miss the anthem moment.

Madison Square Garden is in the heart of Manhattan so you can walk there if you are walking around after seeing another tourist attraction nearby. On the other hand, to go to the Barclays Center you will need a little more time if you take public transportation so it is convenient that you take into account the traffic or rush hours so you can get to the stadium without rushing. I leave here the New York subway guide.

The day of the game I advise you to go at least an hour in advance to go calmly, go through the security arch, locate the seats, experience the atmosphere with the music and dances of the cheerleaders, listen to the American anthem before the game and see the players enter the court. Movie!

Can I bring my backpack or camera?

According to Madison Square Garden's policy, backpacks and unnecessary bags are discouraged. All will be subject to strict security screening which may delay access to the stadium. In addition, no video cameras, audio recording devices, professional cameras (including telephoto or zoom lenses), selfie sticks or tripods are allowed.

As for the Barclays Center, according to its access policy, backpacks or bags larger than 14 "x14 "x6" or that have hard sides will not be permitted. Neither will professional camera equipment, audio and/or video recording devices or selfie sticks and tripods.

Where to eat before or after the game?

Inside the stadium there are many food and drink stands but the prices are quite a bit more expensive than outside. For example, a bottle of water can cost around $5, a hot dog around $7 and a soft drink around $6.5.

Since you are not allowed to enter the stadium with your own food or drink, my advice is that before the game, if you are hungry, buy something to snack at one of the restaurants around Madison Square Garden and Barclays Center such as Shake Sack or Five Guys. Or wait until the game is over to go 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 arise.

How long is an NBA game?

Officially it lasts 48 minutes (4 quarters of 12 minutes each), but between timeouts and halftime most games usually last 2 hours or more. After the first two quarters, there is a 15 minute break where you can take the opportunity to get something to eat or go to the bathroom.

I don't have an Internet connection in New York! How do I access the tickets?

If you don't have an Internet connection during your trip to New York, you can always use the hotel where you are staying and open your tickets there so that they are ready on your cell phone when you arrive at the venue. You can also go to any public establishment such as a coffee shop or restaurant near the stadium, as they have free WiFi.