Record-breaking ticket prices, player reactions and more buzz surrounding the Sixers-Knicks season opener

An advisory warning to 76ers fans: Don’t expect tickets to the Sixers’ season opener if you’re not ready to pay big money.

The NBA announced Tuesday that the Sixers will play the New York Knicks on Oct. 20 as part of league’s triple-header to open the season.

And if the buzz around the Sixers wasn’t big enough already with LeBron James and Jaylen Brown making their debuts, the matchup against the defending champion Knicks at Madison Square Garden certainly adds some allure.

After being swept by New York in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Sixers watch the Knicks raise their first championship banner in 53 years.

And tickets are set to break NBA records, with third-party sites showing get-in prices for nearly $2,000. If that number stands, the game would be the most expensive NBA home opener ever.

Here’s what social media is saying about the matchup, ticket prices, James and Brown’s Philly debuts, and more …

There are several reasons this opener is a hot ticket. The combination of it being championship ring night for the Knicks, James and Brown’s first game as Sixers, and a rematch between an already bitter rivalry are driving prices up.

However, tickets haven’t yet gone on sale from the teams’ primary box offices. Prices being shared online are from resellers and secondary markets.

Still, many fans are outraged and worried about what this means for tickets for the rest of the season.

Even the team’s home opener at Xfinity Mobile Arena against James’ first team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, on Oct. 22, has high prices due to increased demand.

On July 1, it seemed like the trade that delivered Brown would be the Sixers’ marquee event of the offseason. That was until James signed with the Sixers a few weeks later.

So naturally, their first game in a Sixers jersey will cause a stir, as fans finally get to see Mike Gansey’s offseason moves step onto the court.

And again, the matchup only adds to the excitement of it all, as the Sixers seek revenge in New York with a new — and what’s expected to be an improved — team.

While NBA fans will have to wait a little longer to find out when Brown will face his former team in the regular season, the Sixers will see the Boston Celtics in preseason games on Oct. 10 and 16. As for James, there is a Christmas Day game to look forward to against the Lakers. But not only will James be facing old teammates, he’ll also be facing his son.

James will have to deal with the Knicks first, which usually makes for a good matchup. But now Sixers fans are expecting it to be even better.

Even Knicks shooting guard and Villanova alum Josh Hart weighed in with his reaction to the match up.

But he wasn’t the only star that’s been mentioning the Sixers lately. During her stop in Philly, Hilary Duff compared her tour route to James’ career, with stops in Florida and Los Angeles before heading to Philly.

While Hart shared his reaction on X, fellow New York Knick and Villanova teammate Jalen Brunson spoke on the third-hour of the Today Show.

When host Craig Melvin called the Sixers “the team to beat in the East,” Brunson didn’t try to dispute it.

“I mean, rightfully so,” Brunson said. “They have a lot of firepower. But we’re going to focus on what we’ve got to do, and we’ll see what happens.”

When Melvin asked Brunson’s thoughts on the opening night matchup, Brunson said he thinks the game will be “fireworks for sure.”

“They’re going to be electric, they’re going to be definitely a team to keep your eye on,” Brunson said. “They reloaded this year, so it’s going to be a tough test, but we’ll be ready.”