The New York Knicks will begin their championship defense Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, opening the NBA season as defending champions for the first time in 53 years.
Before tipoff against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Knicks will raise their NBA championship banner to the rafters at the Garden alongside the franchise’s two previous titles.
The ceremony comes after a historic postseason run that ended with the Knicks defeating the San Antonio Spurs in five games in the NBA Finals, securing the team’s first NBA championship since 1973.
Now the focus shifts to a new season as the Knicks look to build on last year’s success. The opener will feature Jalen Brunson and the Knicks against LeBron James and the 76ers.
Speaking about sharing the moment with fans, Knicks captain Jalen Brunson said, “It’s definitely special. They deserve it. This is something that’s been brewing for a long time. So to share this moment with them is definitely special.”
The banner-raising ceremony is expected to begin around 6:30 p.m., with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
Fans hoping to attend will have to pay a premium. The cheapest tickets available on several resale sites were about $1,500 as of Tuesday morning.
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