Josh Hart is questioning the passion of Philadelphia sports fans after the New York Knicks’ recent playoff series against the 76ers.
The Knicks forward, who won a national championship at Villanova University, suggested that the city might not be the sports stronghold it once was. This comes after New York completed a four-game sweep against Philadelphia at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
The atmosphere at the games felt more like Madison Square Garden due to the large number of Knicks supporters.
Knicks Fans Take Over
There was no official count of Knicks fans versus 76ers fans. However, Joel Embiid was booed when he appeared on the video screen before the game, an indication of the crowd’s divided loyalties.
During the 2024 playoffs, Knicks fans also dominated the stands in Philadelphia. This prompted Embiid to plead with 76ers fans not to sell their tickets before this year’s series.
With Philadelphia facing a 0-3 deficit on Mother’s Day, and the Phillies playing nearby, local fans seemed less interested in preventing New York fans from filling Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Maxey’s Disappointment
Tyrese Maxey expressed his frustration with the situation. “It absolutely sucks,” he said. “That’s all I can really say about it. It’s hard. It’s definitely difficult.”
Maxey believes the team performed better when playing the Knicks at Madison Square Garden during the regular season. He noted that even in the two games they lost in The Garden, their performance was superior. “I was telling them, it just felt louder here for them than it did in The Garden.”
The Cost Factor
For Knicks fans, attending games in Philadelphia is more affordable than going to Madison Square Garden, where ticket prices are high. Philadelphia is approximately 90 miles from Manhattan, a drive of just over 90 minutes without traffic.
The Knicks’ four-game sweep marked their first since 1999.
The only way to change the home support imbalance, according to Maxey, is for the 76ers to win games.