NBA Basketball in New York 2026 – 2027

Watching NBA Basketball in New York is an invigorating experience. Basketball season runs from October to April. You can support either the Brooklyn Nets in Brooklyn or the New York Knicks in Manhattan. Even if you’re not a basketball fan, you won’t regret buying tickets because the atmosphere at a game is awesome. Depending on whether overtime is necessary, games last between 2 and 2.5 hours. With a drink in one hand and a hot dog in the other, attending a basketball game is a great way to feel like a real New Yorker!

See the 2026 – 2027 basketball schedule here

There are three basketball teams in New York:

🏀 National Basketball Association: New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets
🏀 (WNBA): New York Liberty

New York Basketball Teams

New York is the proud home to two big NBA (National Basketball Association) teams, the Knicks and the Nets, with the New York Knicks (officially known as the New York Knickerbockers) being the most famous.

Madison Square Garden in Manhattan is the Knicks’ stamping ground and alongside the twenty thousand ordinary spectators, you can regularly see world-famous stars sitting courtside to encourage their team.

If New York Knicks tickets are a little out of your price range, check the calendar for a Brooklyn Nets game. Barclays Center in Brooklyn is home to the Nets and tickets to see this team are often cheaper. You could even bump into avid Nets supporters Jay Z and Beyoncé.

The New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets are rivals, predominantly because they play in the same city. When they play each other it’s known as “Clash of the Boroughs”. The Knicks are my favourite team, and one of the reasons for this is where they play: at Madison Square Garden, situated in the heart of the city, each game is an extraordinary experience.

WNBA in New York

If you are visiting New York when the Knicks or Nets are out of season, then you can visit a WNBA game. The Women’s National Basketball Association has one basketball team that plays in New York: New York Liberty. New York Liberty plays in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The WNBA season is from May until late September when the WNBA Playoffs are played.

College Basketball in New York

New York is also home to college basketball tournaments and teams! The St. John’s Red Storm, for example, are the pride of New York and are cheered for enthusiastically. They play at Madison Square Garden, where you can watch them in action. Expect a vibrant atmosphere with lots of passionate students. It’s a great option if you want to experience basketball in New York for a cheaper price.

See the 2026 – 2027 basketball schedule here

Philadelphia 76ers

This season, LeBron James joined the Philadelphia 76ers. From New York, it is a 1.5-hour bus ride to Philadelphia, where you can see this star player and his new team in action. It’s a unique chance, as this is likely to be one of his final seasons.

New York Basketball for Beginners

Each NBA game commences with the singing of the national anthem, a remarkable experience which I definitely recommend attending.

A basketball game consists of two opposing teams of five players, so there are a total of 10 players on the court at one time. The game is split into four 12-minute quarters. The aim of the game is to get the ball through the metal hoop (basket) whilst obstructing the opposing team from doing the same.

There is a short break between each quarter in which an abundance of entertainment is provided, expect to see dunking contests, kids playing basketball and performances from the Knicks City Dancers or the Brooklynettes (yes, that’s their real name).

Rules

• The players can dribble the ball over the whole court. Once they are over the midline, they are not allowed back with the ball.
• If a player stands still with the ball, he must pass it to another player or try to score a basket.
• If he a player scores from within the circle, the team get two points, from outside the circle, the score is worth three points, and a free throw is good for one point.
• The team that ends the game with the most points wins. A draw is not a permitted outcome, so in that case, there is overtime.

NBA Basketball Season

The NBA basketball season runs from October to April. Before the regular season begins, teams play a few practice games. The preseason usually starts at the beginning of October.

Pre-season tickets

During the NBA pre-season games, you get to experience an basketball game with real atmosphere, but at a cheaper price than the regular season games.

• 5 October
• 8 October
• 8 October
• 12 October
• 15 October
• 16 October

New York Playoff Tickets

The playoffs are the final leg of the tournament and begin in April. The NBA finals between the top two teams are played in June. You can buy Knicks and Nets Playoffs tickets online if one of the New York teams reaches a top spot during the season. The playoffs tickets are in high demand so expect them to be more expensive than normal games.

About Eric »

Hey there, I'm Eric!

I'm a true New York fan with over 20 years of experience visiting and living in NYC. Here on my website, I share all my tips and valuable information to help you make the most of your trip. I personally test and regularly re-test everything on my site to ensure that what I write is helpful, honest, and always up to date.

If you have questions, are unsure about something, or want me to check your itinerary, please email me at eric@newyorkcity.ca. You can also follow me on Facebook or Instagram to get daily updates from New York.

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Eric’s Tip: “Tickets for the Brooklyn Nets are often cheaper and the stadium in Brooklyn is easy to get to by subway. So if you really want to experience a New York Basketball game but don’t want to spend too much, buy tickets for a Nets game.”

Basketball Games Calendar in New York