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NBA Even though Trae Young no longer plays for the Hawks, New York's mayor joking blamed Young's past performances versus the Knicks for high playoff ticket prices at MSG. Wendell Cruz / USA Today Sports New York mayor Zohran Mamdani was recently asked why ticket prices for the upcoming playoff series between the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks were so high. The bad blood between the two franchises, fostered by a contentious playoff series in 2021, can be cited as a good reason for the increased attention to the series and, thus, higher ticket prices. Still, the mayor went a step further by saying the blame lies with the man previously responsible for the vitriol, even if he no longer plays for the Hawks. Advertisement “I would say that I blame Trae Young, ” Mamdani said to laughter Thursday. “And I think it’s always important to blame Trae Young. ” Young, who the Hawks dealt to the Washington Wizards at the 2026 trade deadline after seven seasons in Atlanta, responded to Mamdani’s comments on X, reminding New York what happened last time. “Remember what happened the last time the mayor of that city had my name in his mouth during a time like this, ” Young wrote before adding the hashtag #Dont Blame Me When It Happens Again. In 2021, Young averaged 29. 2 points and 9. 8 assists in a 4-1 first-round playoff series win over New York. He graciously accepted the villain role, playing to the ire of Knicks fans. After hitting a game-winner in Game 1, Young put a finger to his lips, shushing the Madison Square Garden crowd, and did his signature “Ice Trae” shivering celebration in his 32-point playoff debut. He then smiled when the crowd began chanting profanities at him in later games. After Young’s Game 1 antics, then-New York mayor Bill de Blasio criticized the point guard in a news briefing a few days later. “This is very serious, want to get this message to Trae Young on behalf of the people of New York City and anybody that cares about playing basketball the right way: Stop hunting for fouls, Trae, ” de Blasio said. The former mayor admonished Young’s style of play, which resulted in nine free throws for the Hawks’ point guard in the 107-105 Game 1 win, in which he also had 10 assists and seven rebounds. “I want to quote Steve Nash, great player, great coach, ‘That’s not basketball, ’” de Blasio said. “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, and I think the Knicks are going to teach you a lesson. ” After a walk-off deep 3-pointer at MSG in Game 5, sealing the series victory, Young theatrically bowed at half court. He joined Michael Jordan as one of the only visiting players to log three straight 30-point games at Madison Square Garden in the playoffs. Advertisement “I know there are a lot of shows in this city, ” Young told reporters afterward, “and I know what they do when the show is over. ” He has been one of New York’s most hated villains ever since. After the quip at Young, Mamdani said he sympathized with New Yorkers regarding the increased ticket prices for the playoff series. Mamdani mentioned his “political mentor, ” Bernie Sanders, and the anguish when the Dodgers left Brooklyn, along with the feeling that New Yorkers are “being pushed out of the very things that give them so much joy. ” “We have seen sports become more and more of a luxury commodity, and that is not what it always used to be, ” Mamdani said. “I am still confident and hopeful of a championship this year. I do wish, however, that all of these tickets were far more affordably priced. I think that there are many New Yorkers for whom the game is something that is celebrated across the entire city. When the Knicks do well, you feel it across this whole city. And it’s not just for those who can afford to go to the game. ” While the back-and-forth between Mamdani and Young is entertaining, the four-time All-Star will not be walking out of the Madison Square Garden tunnel on behalf of Atlanta. The sixth-seeded Hawks (46-36) are led against the third-seeded Knicks (53-29) by Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Johnson averaged career highs of 22. 5 points, 10. 3 rebounds and 7. 9 assists this season, while Alexander-Walker set a career mark, putting up 20. 8 points per game. Alexander-Walker never previously averaged more than 12. 8 points per game in his seven NBA seasons. And unlike the 2021 Knicks, who were in the playoffs for the first time since 2013, this iteration has made the playoffs five times in the last six seasons, including a run to the Eastern Conference finals last season. Neither of the Knicks’ headline stars, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, played for New York in that series. Even with new faces, the two teams are set to start a new chapter in the rivalry, fueled by citywide disdain for past players. Game 1 will tip off at 6 p. m. ET at Madison Square Garden on Saturday. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle Devon Henderson is a staff writer for The Athletic. He has covered the Summer Olympics, College Football Playoffs, and the Men's Final Four while at Arizona State University and was an intern at the Southern California News Group, where he covered the Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Sparks, and LAFC. Follow Devon on Twitter @Henderson Devon_