Comparing Knicks' NBA Finals Courtside Tickets Prices to 1999 & How Muhammad Ali Barely Got Into ECF

It's going to cost New York Knicks fans just a little bit more to sit courtside at this year's NBA Finals than it did in 1999, assuming the team completes its victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers after taking a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals.

On Sunday, Steve Popper of Newsday noted there were two courtside tickets available at Madison Square Garden for Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals for a stunning $595,000:

That stands in stark contrast to the ticket prices in 1999 when the Knicks faced the San Antonio Spurs. 

Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic shared an old newspaper article that revealed courtside tickets were $2,500:

Those playoff seats were so difficult to get, though, that representatives for Muhammad Ali had to specifically request some for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers.

While the boxing legend ended up missing the game because of flight problems, Knicks vice president of public relations Chris Weiller said at the time that "exceptions are made if you're the greatest" when explaining why Ali got tickets when other celebrities had to be turned away.

This year's Finals may be even more difficult to get into given the prices. Darren Rovell of CLLCT reported the first two courtside seats at Madison Square Garden sold for nearly $280,000:

New York hasn't won the championship since the 1972-73 campaign, and its fans are surely desperate for the chance to see a team that is so poised to challenge for that Larry O'Brien Trophy make a title run in person.

But one look at the prices at Madison Square Garden helps explain why Knicks fans making their presence felt at playoff road games this year has been such a storyline. It is likely cheaper for them to make the trip to places such as Philadelphia and Cleveland to see the team on the road.

Still, there is no denying the atmosphere at the Garden, especially at this time of year. It's just going to cost a significant amount of money for anyone who wants to experience it.