Celebrity gang of New York

The New York Knicks’ victory was a momentous occasion, celebrated by both celebrities and their devoted fans

By now, we have witnessed how passionate New York Knicks fans are. Winning a chip on a Saturday while playing on the road seemed perfect. It gave the city the weekend vibe to celebrate what had been a 53-year-long wait and probably the biggest thing film director Spike Lee, the most notable of all Knicks fans, had anticipated in his storied life.

The Knicks had everything going for them to develop such a fiery fan base. New York is the most populous city in the United States, with over 8.4 million residents. Their home court, Madison Square Garden, is labeled the “Mecca of Basketball.” Add the Statue of Liberty as a New York symbol and the city’s reputation as “The City That Never Sleeps,” and you have hordes of fans fully awake, decidedly proud, and loud.

It’s icing on the cake and perhaps expected that the Knicks have a good dose of celebrity fandom, even if the team has been on the losing side for years. Lee, director of acclaimed movies like BlackKkKlansman and Da 5 Bloods, was infamously the direct recipient of Reggie Miller’s “choke” sign 32 years ago during Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals between the Knicks and the Pacers. We can only imagine how happy Spike was after announcer Mike Breen teased Knicks fans to “go ahead and cry” after the final buzzer sounded in the championship-clinching Game 5 against the San Antonio Spurs.

This dream season for the Knicks somewhat erased the stigma of that choke, even if, just last year, Tyrese Haliburton of the current Pacers mimicked the menacing act at MSG.

In the just-concluded epic Finals series, we saw the Jalen Brunson-led team overcome double-digit deficits and win.

Celebrity fans came in droves to watch the comeback Knicks. Actor Ben Stiller was often seen video-documenting game moments. Young actor Timothée Chalamet proved to be a true-blue fan, having been born in New York and reportedly chasing autographs from Knicks players.

Familiar face Tracy Morgan is a regular, intense presence during home games, while you won’t be surprised to see Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock every once in a while.

Female celebrities were likewise well represented. Actress Mariska Hargitay actually had postgame interactions with some players, while current sex symbol Sydney Sweeney even attended the last game in San Antonio.

We can argue that celebrity presence helps boost team morale. This was best illustrated in Game 4 of the Finals when the Knicks bounced back from a 29-point deficit, avoiding what initially appeared to be a second straight loss at the Garden. They instead took a commanding 3-1 lead, and who else was in the house when OG Anunoby and company engineered the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history? A billionaire recording artist whose own fan base is arguably as dedicated as the Knicks’ supporters. Yes, Taylor Swift was cheering for the Knicks all the way to the tip-in that sealed the come-from-behind win.

Shame on her critics for accusing her of not being a legitimate fan. Why would she be there wearing a customized Stevie Knicks shirt and excitedly jumping throughout the rally? For attention? To promote her latest album? Certainly not. She relocated to New York in 2014 and expressed her love for the city in her album 1989.

The celebrity-filled courtside support reached another level when President Donald Trump himself came to watch Finals Game 3. The kind of welcome he received from New Yorkers, despite being one by birth and upbringing, is talk-show cuisine. But one cannot belittle the fact that he was the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game. That alone was a hint that this year was a special run for the Knicks. They rewarded their celebrity fans and legion of nameless faithful with the crown on a Saturday night. — Yugel Losorata