New York Knicks celebrity row personality-driven superlatives
The New York Knicks‘run within the 2026 NBA playoffs has been filled with Jalen Brunson 3-pointers, Karl-Anthony Towns assists and trademark hustle from Josh Hart. But one other constant issue has been alongside for the trip — celebrities within the stands.
New York boasts arguably the very best celebrity row within the NBA, if not throughout all main American sports activities. Of course, Spike Lee is the headliner. But the legendary director is simply the tip of the iceberg.
There’s Ben Stiller and Timothée Chalamet. Tracy Morgan is a staple look in the course of the preseason or playoffs. Jay-Z sat courtside because the Knicks took a 2-0 lead in opposition to the Philadelphia 76ers within the second spherical. Two nights earlier, Jimmy Fallon took an identical seat.
Each fan brings their very own rooting method. Therefore, forward of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday (8 pm ET on ESPN), we determined to interrupt them down with some personality-driven superlatives.
Most more likely to schedule their marriage ceremony round a Knicks sport: Timothée Chalamet
Chalamet’s dedication to the Knicks cannot be questioned. The actor skipped the Met Gala not simply as soon as however twice, in 2025 and 2026, to be current for his workforce.
While his girlfriend, Kylie Jenner, attended each galas, Chalamet opted to root for the Knicks as they performed on each of these days. In 2025, they have been on the street and he watched from house, however Chalamet sat courtside at Madison Square Garden the next yr earlier than Jenner joined him.
Skipping his marriage ceremony for a Knicks sport certainly would not be the very best transfer, but it surely’s not totally out of the query. It’s protected to say, although, that Chalamet’s marriage ceremony would seemingly be in the course of the offseason.
The passionate AAU dad: All of the previous Knicks
Former Knicks have been staples at video games — house or away.
Patrick Ewing, John Starks, Stephon Marbury and Latrell Sprewell are just some among the many many names who seem within the stands. Bernard King can all the time be noticed in a clear go well with. When not on the printed for MSG Network, Clyde Frazier is within the crowd. Carmelo Anthony and JR Smith signify the newest Knicks alums.
Regardless, the ex-Knicks include vitality and are prepared to leap into motion any second.
After Mitchell Robinson posterized 76ers star Joel Embiid In the second spherical, Marbury posted a easy video from the stands with the caption: “On top of his head!”
In Game 1 in opposition to the Atlanta Hawks In the primary spherical, Towns went crashing to the ground after an and-1 halfway by the fourth quarter. His momentum took him close to the photographers behind the basket, and his left leg stayed upright taking within the second. Starks leapt from his seat and smacked Towns’ leg twice in enthusiasm, because the Garden crowd erupted.
As the Knicks stormed again in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, Starks and Marbury practically bought onto the courtroom at varied moments. When Knicks guard Landry Shamet tied the rating late, Starks’ fist pump virtually struck Cavs ahead Evan Mobley on the inbound. Another former Knick, Larry Johnson, needed to convey Starks again.
It’s simply one other instance of how the Knicks’ previous has made its mark on the sidelines.
Most more likely to live-post courtside: Ben Stiller
An integral member of Knicks known for his candid posts about his favourite workforce. Stiller started posting persistently in regards to the workforce in the course of the 2023-24 season, coinciding with the Knicks having their finest marketing campaign since 2012-13.
His platform on social media has solely grown since then. Interactions with different New York followers and easy posts resembling “DEUUUUCCCEEE“for Miles McBrideare frequent. However, Stiller has elevated his content material, too.
During the Knicks’ sequence in opposition to the Hawks, I’ve shared movies of Brunson and Hart enjoying from courtside. At some level, identical to when he is watching from house, Stiller will start to live-post about video games, even whereas he is simply inches from the motion.
An opposing participant’s least (or generally not) favourite voice to listen to: Spike Lee
There won’t be a extra well-known celebrity fan of any sports activities workforce than Spike Lee. Lee’s courtside seat would possibly as nicely be reserved, together with his attendance at Madison Square Garden turning into virtually a given through the years.
What makes Lee particular as a fan, nevertheless, is his tendency to chirp at opposing gamers. It can both agitate them or encourage them to place collectively a robust efficiency to quiet Lee down — simply ask Reggie Miller. But it might probably additionally throw them off their sport. Therefore, listening to Lee’s heckling courtside is a real double-edged sword.
Mother of the Knicks: Anne Hathaway
Born in Brooklyn, Hathaway has adopted the Knicks for the reason that Nineties, dreaming of at some point sitting courtside at a sport. During an look on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” final month, Hathaway broke her fandom down in easy phrases.
“I’m very chill, loving and calm, but I’m also the type of fan that I considered wearing an O.G. [Anunoby] jersey out right here immediately,” Hathaway said. “When I’m at the game, I want them to know that I know who they are and that they’re going to win. I don’t want to get out into like, ‘What are you doing?’ [and] all that; I want them to know that you can do no wrong. I’m trying to be a gentle, loving, motherly fan.”
During the hardest moments of a sport, Knicks gamers can at the least know Hathaway may supply some motherly assist from the sidelines.
Most more likely to convey their wiener canine to a sport: Steve Schirripa
The former “Sopranos” star is dedicated to his Knicks and is commonly noticed on the Garden. Schirripa has come a good distance since shopping for $6 tickets to sit down within the nosebleeds as a pupil at Brooklyn College.
He boasts a customized No. 24 “Schirripa” Knicks jersey, which is framed at house. It was noticed in an Instagram publish from Schirripa final month as he labored on his laptop computer together with his wiener canine, Willie, subsequent to him.
Schirripa launched a youngsters’s ebook centered on Willie, “WillieBoy Eats the World,” on April 21. The two then went on a ebook tour with stops in New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island to put it up for sale. A logical ultimate cease? Courtside at a Knicks playoff sport.
Likeliest host of a Knicks-fans-only celebration: Edie Falco
From one “Sopranos” star to a different, Falco’s ardour for the Knicks is on full show on and off the courtroom. She stated she has fallen in love with basketball. The workforce to her “feels almost like a family member,” she defined on a latest episode of the “Knicks Film School” podcast. It’s laborious to observe a sport and never spot Falco courtside or within the stands.
Her connection to the followers is exclusive, too.
“When I’m in the Garden watching a Knicks game, I feel nothing but attached to every single person in that Garden,” she said.
Therefore, seeing Falco maintain a celebration for solely Knicks followers would appear to be an ideal match.
Funniest trash talker: Chris Rock, Larry David
There are not any scarcity of comedians at Knicks video games, however Rock and David is perhaps the largest headliners. Both of them are from New York, and each boast fandoms generations lengthy.
Rock was courtside on the Knicks’ season opener in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliersand David confirmed up March 1 for the sport versus the San Antonio Spurs. However, neither of them has made a playoff look but. And you may’t blame David for being just a little hesitant.
During the Knicks’ run in 2025, David attended Game 1 in opposition to the Indiana Pacers within the Eastern Conference finals. Indiana ended up profitable the sport, however not with out some memorable moments from David. His reactions ranged from repeatedly yelling “no” throughout a possession to a surprised look when Tyrese Haliburton tied the rating on the buzzer.
Rock as soon as took a selfie courtside together with his fellow comedians, appropriately captioned on X: “Let’s Go Knicks.” He additionally famously attempted to present Kobe Bryant a “pep talk” throughout an NBA Finals sport in 2010.
Let’s go Knicks pic.twitter.com/NKimjKiQp3
— Chris Rock (@chrisrock) December 22, 2016
If wanted, David and Rock may probably be counted on for getting fun out of an opposing participant.
A referee’s scariest voice to listen to: Susie Essman
The former “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star is thought for his fiery comedic type, particularly on the HBO present. Playing Susie Greene, her passionate, generally profanity-laced, yelling at Larry David or her husband served as a few of the most memorable moments of the sequence. Essman even attended a sport with David in the course of the Knicks’ 2025 playoff run and in March, flashing a smile.
But anybody conversant in Essman’s work is aware of she will be able to flip it on in a flash — particularly if a referee makes a name she disagrees with sufficient to allow them to hear about it.
MSG workforce retailer’s secret supervisor: Tracy Morgan
It may be straightforward to get misplaced among the many stars in celebrity row, however discovering Tracy Morgan is a simple job. Unlike most celebrities, who would possibly put on conventional style, Morgan by no means strays from the orange and blue colours of the Knicks.
From a throwback Jamal Crawford jersey to a quarter-zip à la Knicks coach Mike Brown, Morgan is thought for displaying up in workforce apparel. During the 2025 postseason run, Morgan rocked customized shirts to some video games, together with a “Feed the KAT” one, referring to Towns.
No matter the sport, Morgan stays dedicated to his suits. He even wore an Adidas Knicks jersey throughout a preseason sport in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves. It’s sufficient Knicks gear to make one suppose that Morgan might need a particular key to the workforce retailer within the enviornment.
Most more likely to ship a fiery postgame speech: John McEnroe
McEnroe’s ardour on the tennis courtroom has carried over to his Knicks fandom. Following a 31-51 marketing campaign within the 2016-17 season, McEnroe called his beloved workforce “a total train wreck.”
“I mean I’ve been a Knicks fan since I was a kid, so this is just getting beyond belief,” he stated.
The Knicks’ resurgence in recent times has included McEnroe taking it on courtside, typically sporting workforce gear and keenness from the sideline.
If New York loses a sport it should not, seeing McEnroe storm into the locker room to let the gamers hear about it would not be all that a lot of a shock.
