The Washington Wizards finished the NBA season with the worst record within the league, yet the cellar dweller’s star player, Trae Young, continues to be living rent free within the heads of Latest York’s biggest fans.
Five years after Young, 27, lit up the Knicks within the 2021 playoffs with the Atlanta Hawks, Latest York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani continues to be inclined accountable him for the team’s postseason problems.
“I might say that I blame Trae Young,” Mamdani, 34, told reporters when asked concerning the outrageous prices for Knicks playoff tickets during a Thursday, April 16 press conference. “And I believe it’s at all times vital accountable Trae Young.”
Young caught wind of the mayor’s comments and responded with a warning via X.
“Remember what happened the last time the Mayor of that City had my name in his mouth during a time like this… 😂✋🏽. #DontBlameMeWhenItHappensAgain,” he wrote.
Young was referencing former Latest York Mayor Bill de Blasio, who donned a Knicks cap in 2021 and sent Young a message about playing basketball “the fitting way.”
“I actually have a crucial official announcement,” de Blasio, 64, said on the time. “This could be very serious and I need to get this out. Message to Trae Young on behalf of the people of Latest York City and anyone who cares about actually playing basketball the fitting way. Stop looking for fouls, Trae.”
He continued, “I need to cite Steve Nash, certainly one of the good players, great coach. He says, quote unquote, ‘That’s not basketball.’ Trae, Trae, that hawk’s not going to fly in Latest York City. Come on. Play the sport the fitting way, see in the event you can win. I believe the Knicks are going to show you a lesson.”
The Hawks beat the Knicks, 3 games to 1, of their playoff series, as Young averaged slightly below 30 points per game and hit the game-winner in Game 1 with lower than a second left.
Because the Knicks get able to host the Hawks again within the 2026 NBA Playoffs, Mamdani also shared his view on the sky-high prices to get into Madison Square Garden (the get-in price for Game 1 was $346 per ticket, as of Friday morning, April 17, in response to SeatGeek).
“We’ve seen sports turn out to be an increasing number of of a luxury commodity and that just isn’t what it at all times was once,” Mamdani said. “I believe it just speaks to the numerous ways during which Latest Yorkers, repeatedly, are being pushed out of the very things that give them a lot joy. I’m still confident and hopeful of a championship this 12 months.”
The Hawks and Knicks will square off in Game 1 of their playoff series on Saturday, April 18 at 6 p.m. ET.