Sixers

New York’s Socialism Era Begins with Knicks Giving Tyrese Maxey Part Ownership of Madison Square Garden

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Jan 4th, 2026 · 12:08 PM EST

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Ho hum, another Sixers’ victory inside of Madison Square Garden. They beat the Knicks 130 to 119 on Saturday night for their third win a row, following up a 116 to 107 triumph at MSG back on December 19th. The Sixers are now 2-0 against the reigning NBA Cup champions in the 2025-2026 season.

Tyrese Maxey went for a game-high 36 points on 14-22 shooting in this one. He shot 6-9 from three.

In the first trip to MSG, he poured in 30 points, another game high, shooting 11-24 from the field and 6-12 from beyond the arc. He added nine assists and was a +9 in that game.

If it feels like Maxey owns Madison Square Garden, it’s because he does.

In 12 career games up there, he’s posted the following numbers:

Regular Season (9 GP):

• 17.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 3.6 APG, 0.7 SPG
• High: 36 points
• Shooting: 47.3% FG, 39.1% 3PT, 82.6% FT

Playoffs (3 GP):

• 38.0 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 7.7 APG
• High: 46 points
• Shooting: 55.1% FG, 46.9% 3PT, 81.3% FT

You no doubt remember his 2024 playoff performance, in particular the 46 points from the Game 5 overtime win. He was so good that he had Jon Stewart in disbelief, as if he had seen a ghost, or a Republican:

It’s telling when you parse the data a little further and focus on the last three seasons, when Maxey turned a hard corner and became a legitimate All-Star, and now an MVP candidate.

Between 2023 and now, Tyrese at MSG:

Regular Season (4 GP):

• 28.3 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 5.5 APG, 0.8 SPG
• High: 36 points
• Shooting: 46.7% FG, 40.5% 3PT, 85.7% FT

Playoffs (3 GP):

• 38.0 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 7.7 APG
• High: 46 points
• Shooting: 55.1% FG, 46.9% 3PT, 81.3% FT

He’s been incredible up there. Totally unfazed by a good crowd backing a good team. That’s one of the best NBA environments when the Knicks are decent, and the Sixers have put in two quality performances in the span of a few weeks.

Your team, your town, your 76ers are 19-14 and have wins against three of the top four in the East. That’s New York, Toronto, and Boston. They lost twice to Detroit, but both games were competitive and played without Joel Embiid and Paul George. You never know what could happen as we turn the page into 2026.

What we do know for sure is that MSG is now Tyrese’s vacation home. Maybe his New York City apartment, with rent control. There’s probably a Mamdani socialism joke in here somewhere. Perhaps the Knicks are sharing Madison Square Garden? They are “redistributing” some of their wins to the Sixers. Fair is fair!