Spike Lee, Timothée Chalamet, and Emmy Rossum are just a few of the famous faces you might see courtside at a New York Knicks game.

16 celebrities with Knicks fever

Spike Lee, Timothée Chalamet, and Emmy Rossum are just a few of the famous faces you might see courtside at a New York Knicks game.

June 4, 2026 6:30 p.m. ET

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Spike Lee; Emmy Rossum; Timothée Chalamet. Credit:

Shuran Huang/For The Washington Post via Getty; James Devaney/Getty; Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty

It's not incorrect to say that celebrities really are just like us — as long as you're a fan of the Knicks.

And right now is a great time to be a fan of the beloved New York basketball team, who are currently facing off against the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals, a rematch almost three decades in the making.

By now, even people who have only a passing familiarity with the sport are aware of celebrity fans like Timothée Chalamet and the legendary filmmaker Spike Lee, both of whom are frequently spotted sitting courtside. But they're not the only ones.

Below, we're highlighting 16 of the Knicks' most famous fans — and what makes them so devoted to the team.

Spike Lee attends a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden on May 6, 2026.

Dustin Satloff/Getty

The iconic filmmaker behind *Do the Right Thing *(1989) and last year's *Highest 2 Lowest* is inarguably the Knicks' most famous fan. As he proclaimed to *The* *New York Times* in 2012, "they are going to bury me in these colors."

As for the current playoffs, Lee told *Vanity Fair* that he's been "praying for the Knicks to win" since 1973, when they last won the NBA championship title.

This time, he has a little extra help on his side. "We've been blessed by Pope Leo," said Lee, who also revealed that the Pope signed a jersey that he's wearing during the finals.

Ben Stiller attends a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden on April 28, 2026.

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty

"They've always been the coolest franchise, even when they were losing," Ben Stiller said of the Knicks in a recent interview. "Now it's like living up to the franchise."

The actor and filmmaker frequently posts through Knicks games on his X account. In May, Stiller regrettably had to skip a playoff game to attend the Met Gala, where he and his wife, Christine Taylor, wore blue and orange to rep the team. He also snuck a few peeks at the game on his phone — a big no-no at the event.

"Anna Wintour doesn't like when people are watching their phones at the Met Gala," he said on *The Pat McAfee Show*. "She wants everybody's attention to be there, which I understand. I was watching the game, checking on it. But it was really, really tough."

Mariska Hargitay

Mariska Hargitay attends a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden.

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty

Mariska Hargitay makes other celebrity Knicks fans jealous. During a 2025 appearance on *Late Night With Seth Meyers*, the host revealed that Hargitay is the only one who gets a hug from player Jalen Brunson after games.

Asked how this enviable tradition came to pass, the *Law & Order: SVU** *star explained, "How it started was they let me know that Jalen was a big fan, and I was so flattered and thrilled, because I was such a huge fan. I think Jalen sort of grew up on *SVU*... I think he felt this, as many people do, intimacy and safety that one does growing up on *SVU*."

Hargitay said she's gotten close enough to the Brunsons that she calls Jalen's dad by his first name. "I call him Rick. We're close like that," the actress laughed. "It feels like the biggest name drop."

Tracy Morgan

Tracy Morgan poses during a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden on May 6, 2026.

Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty

Tracy Morgan is such a huge fan of the Knicks that he recently celebrated the team making it to the finals by lending his voice to the New York City subway announcements. The *Today* show ran a clip of the *30 Rock* star and *SNL* vet recording his voiceover for the MTA.

"Game night in New York starts on the subway," Morgan says. "So take the train to the game. That's how we show up. Go New York, go New York, go!"

Timothée Chalamet

Timothée Chalamet celebrates during a Knicks game in Cleveland on May 25, 2026.

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty

Unlike Stiller, Timothée Chalamet skipped the 2026 Met Gala to watch the Knicks beat the Philadelphia 76ers in the second-round playoffs. The following day, the *Dune* star posted a video of himself shooting a three-pointer on the Knicks' home court at Madison Square Garden.

Chalamet, who has become a courtside fixture in recent years, also shared a photo of himself praying at player Tyler Kolek's locker, along with one of player Karl-Anthony Towns whispering in his ear before the playoff game.

Jon Stewart attends a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden on Jan. 14, 2018. James Devaney/Getty

Native New Yorker Jon Stewart opened a recent episode of *The Daily Show* by shouting, "The Knicks are in the Finals, baby!"

"That's the good news, the Knicks are in the Finals. The bad news? Victor Wembanyama is still growing," he said, referring to the famously tall — 7-foot-4! — San Antonio Spurs player.

Stewart is often seen sitting courtside at Knicks games, cheering on his home team.

Chris Rock attends a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden on March 4, 2020. James Devaney/Getty

Chris Rock isn't joking when it comes to the Knicks. A longtime fixture on "Celebrity Row," the comedian and actor doesn't shy away from sharing his opinions on the current lineup — good or bad.

During a 2015 appearance on ESPN's *First Take*, Rock was asked for his evaluation of the team under the leadership of then-president Phil Jackson. "They are Eddy Curry bad right now," Rock said, referring to the period from 2005 to 2010, when Curry's deficiencies and troubles off-court seemed to bring the team down. "There's bad, and then there's *Eddy Curry bad*."

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Tina Fey responds to viral photos of Timothée Chalamet manspreading at Knicks game

Emmy Rossum attends a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 24, 2023.

Mitchell Leff/Getty

Emmy Rossum is such a huge Knicks fan that the team once let her take over their X account, back when it was still called Twitter (RIP). The *Shameless* star had a blast posting her takes on the team and resharing fan pics of her sporting a Photoshopped goatee to match then-head coach Mike Woodson.

Rossum frequently appears courtside, where fans can see her dramatic facial expressions and know that they are not alone in their stress, or joy, or frustration.

Jimmy Fallon

Jimmy Fallon with his daughter at a Knicks game on May 19, 2026.

Sarah Stier/Getty

Jimmy Fallon recently opened an episode of *The Tonight Show* with a charming anecdote about taking his daughter Franny to her very first Knicks game, when the New York team beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the playoffs.

In Fallon's telling, a few unusual things happened at what he described as "the most exciting game I've ever seen in my entire life." They got to sit courtside, and halfway through the game, Fallon and his daughter were escorted to a VIP area, where there was an ice cream bar. While Franny was making a sundae, Fallon saw an older man approach her.

"He has white hair, and he's like, 'First game, huh?'" Fallon recalled. "He's like, 'When my son came, all he wanted to eat was a hot dog and that's all he wants. Once he had his hot dog, he wanted to go home.'" Fallon went over to see who Franny was talking to, and it was none other than Dustin Hoffman. "He's just being like a grandpa, and being so nice," Fallon said.

The Knicks also made a miraculous fourth-quarter recovery, beating the Cavs in overtime.

Michael J. Fox

Michael J. Fox attends a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden on May 8, 2024.

Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty

Another famous face on Celebrity Row that night was a man whose appearance at MSG was as exciting for fans as the game itself: Michael J. Fox.

The crowd erupted in cheers when the jumbotron cut to Fox, who was sitting courtside with his wife, Tracy Pollan.

Michael Imperioli

Michael Imperioli attends a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden on March 9, 2019.

James Devaney/Getty

Michael Imperioli has been a fan of the Knicks for a long time — at least since the ’90s. As the *Sopranos* star previously explained to *Stereogum*, he met one of his artistic heroes, rock legend Lou Reed, at a Knicks game. The two later became friends.

In 2018, Imperioli published a book, *The Perfume Burned His Eyes*, about a young boy in 1970s New York who is befriended and mentored by Reed.

Imperioli was recently spotted at a Knicks playoff game at MSG with former *Sopranos* costar Steve Schirripa.

Jerry O’Connell

Jerry O'Connell with friends at a Knicks game in 2026.

Jerry O' Connell/Instagram

Don't question Jerry O'Connell when it comes to the Knicks. The actor is a recurring guest on the sports podcast *Pardon My Take*, recently calling in after a playoff game to set the record straight on the Knicks' championship odds.

"Let me say this, and I'm gonna be real clear about it, okay, 'cause I'm still at the bar," O'Connell said. "The Knicks are *six* wins away from a championship."

"I'm gonna tell you something else," he continued. "Knicks in *four*."

Josh and Benny Safdie

Benny and Josh Safdie cheering on the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

Benny Safdie/Instagram; James Devaney/Getty

Brothers and filmmakers Josh and Benny Safdie are self-described diehard Knicks fans — so much so that they wanted to cast a Knicks player in *Uncut Gems*.

"Being Knicks fans, we always wanted to work with Amar'e Stoudemire, because he had that insane run," Josh told *** *in 2019, "and then as we couldn't make the movie, we just shifted with the times."

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They ultimately ended up casting Boston Celtics player Kevin Garnett. "[A]t first it was tough, because we didn't even think about him because he destroyed us as Knick fans and it was so hard to kind of get over that," Josh said. "But then you realize he plays with such passion and energy that of course it's going to work."

John Turturro

John Turturro attends a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden on March 30, 2019.

James Devaney/Getty

John Turturro has been cheering on the Knicks since the ’60s. The actor and native New Yorker recently stopped by WNYC Radio to discuss his fandom and his excitement for the Knicks making it into the NBA Finals for the first time in almost three decades.

Turturro reminisced about the many times he's attended games with Spike Lee, who directed the actor in several movies, including *Do the Right Thing* and *He Got Game* (1998). "He's the de facto coach," Turturro said of his friend, who doesn't hesitate to "ride the officials."

"I've protected him a few times," Turturro continued, recalling a particularly dicey courtside run-in. "One time, when [Shaquille O'Neal] was young, he fell on top of us. I was sitting with Spike, and I put Spike underneath me. We almost got crushed by the Shaq."

Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart attends a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden on May 21, 2026.

Sarah Stier/Getty

Martha Stewart could've benefited from hearing John Turturro's story about Shaq. In 2025, the iconic multi-hyphenate was sitting courtside at a Knicks game, as she often does, when Jalen Brunson crashed into her and broke her toe.

Stewart recently confronted Brunson when she guested on his podcast, *Roommates Show*, with teammate Josh Hart. "They’ve named it the ‘Stewart-Brunson fracture,’” Stewart joked. “I have an X-ray, I’m going to leave you a picture of it... it was actually a break, so anyways, it’s better now… It took one year to heal.”

Brunson said his father FaceTimed him and told him to apologize to Stewart, who blames herself for the mishap. "It’s my fault for wearing open-toe shoes to a basketball game," she said.

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