The NBA Finals returned to Madison Square Garden for the first time in more than 25 years on Monday night. And with the New York Knicks just two wins away from a championship, their celebrity fans were out in full force.
Among those in attendance for Game 3: Spike Lee, Ben Stiller, Christine Taylor, Tracy Morgan, Timothée Chalamet, John McEnroe, Larry David, Tina Fey, Mariska Hargitay, Jay-Z, Derek Jeter, Eli Manning, Michael Bloomberg and Fat Joe.
President Trump was there too, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to attend an NBA Finals game. Trump, in a luxury suite as a guest of Knicks owner James Dolan, was booed when he was shown on screens during the national anthem; New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also attended but sat in the “cheap” seats.
From left, Kai Trump, President Trump and Knicks owner James Dolan.
(SAUL LOEB via Getty Images)
The San Antonio Spurs ultimately quieted a raucous Garden ground, rebounding to win Game 3. The Knicks now lead the best-of-seven series 2-1, with Game 4 slated for Wednesday night.
Here’s a game-by-game recap of the celebrity sightings during the finals.
Spike Lee reacts from his courtside seat.
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
From left: Tracy Morgan, Tina Fey, Christine Taylor, Ben Stiller, Timothee Chalamet and Josh Safdie.
(Erick W. Rasco via Getty Images)
Christine Taylor, Ben Stiller, Timothée Chalamet and Josh Safdie.
(Al Bello via Getty Images)
Mariska Hargitay cheers on the team in her Jalen Brunson jersey.
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Derek Jeter and Eli Manning.
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Jay-Z, center, in a pensive mood.
(Al Bello via Getty Images)
From left, Rahm Emanuel, Ari Emanuel, Larry David, and David Zaslov.
(SAUL LOEB via Getty Images)
Spike Lee.
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)Game 1: Knicks superfans travel to San Antonio
With the Knicks in the finals for the first time since 1999, many of their celebrity superfans made the trip to Texas, turning the Frost Bank Center into a mini Madison Square Garden for two straight games.
Among those in attendance for Game 1: Lee, Stiller, Morgan, Chalamet, John Turturro and the ever-present Fat Joe.
They watched New York erase a 14-point deficit to win 105-95.
“That was a big one,” Chalamet said after the game. “Three more, let’s go.”
Ben Stiller at Game 1 in San Antonio.
(Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Knicks superfan Spike Lee in San Antonio.
(Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Tracy Morgan.
(Gregory Shamus via Getty Images)
Spike Lee, Tracy Morgan and Fat Joe celebrate the Knicks’ victory.
(Geoff Burke/Imagn Images via Reuters)
Fat Joe at the Frost Bank Center.
(Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
New York Knicks legend Patrick Ewing.
(Scott Wachter/Imagn Images via Reuters)
“That was a big one,” Chalamet said after the game. “Three more, let’s go.”
Game 2: The fan club returns
Many of the same Knicks superfans were back in San Antonio for Friday’s nail-biter, which saw Spurs star Victor Wembanyama miss what would have been a game-winning jumper as time expired.
Chalamet, Stiller, Morgan, and Fat Joe all returned courtside. They were joined by Knicks legend Walt Frazier and Friday and Rush Hour star Chris Tucker. Spurs great David Robinson, also at Game 1, was back in the building to support his old team.
Ben Stiller during Game 2.
(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Stiller and Chalamet were caught on camera celebrating wildly after the buzzer, with videos of the pair trending across social media.
“Two more to go,” Chalamet said after the win. “Two more to go.”
After their Game 3 loss, that’s still the case.