I'm visiting NY next week and would like to see a professional basketball game - I was told the NY Knicks are not in the NBA anymore. Can someone verify this. Are there other competitive basketball games in the city that are worth watching ?

While playing badly, the Knicks are still in the NBA. You may be in luck, as for the first time in many years, their games are not selling out at Madison Square Garden.
You might opt to see the Jersey Nets across the river in the Meadowlands. This year, the Nets are a much better team.
You might also check the Madison Square Garden schedule to see if there are any college games.

good one Knick!LOL

Unfortunately, the only NBA quality team in the area, the Nets, will be on a trip out west next week.
Here's their schedule
http://www.nba.com/nets/schedule/
This team is a lot of fun to watch and it's still very easy to get tickets. Getting to the game is also very easy. Just head the Port Authority on 42 St. and 8th, then take a bus directly there. Since they don't have much of a fan base, and the arena is in a crappy location, you can walk up on the day of the game and buy tickets. Factoring in rush hour traffic during the week you should get on a 6:30 bus to make a 7:30 tip off.

There are always pickup games throughout the city. Many of these players have NBA talent - check out the courts in the Village - many of these players are legendary. These players are better than the Knicks.

The Knicks should bring back myself, Oakley, Starks, Mason, and Pat Riley and we'll win the Championship this year !!!

There'll be some decent college basketball games next week as MSG--the semi-finals and finals of the pre-season NIT.