Spike Lee Top 5 Moments: Looking Back at Knicks Superfan’s History of NY Fanatism

The film director, Spike Lee, has been a major force in the entertainment industry. He made his directorial debut in 1986 with ‘She Gotta Have It’. However, he had to wait three years to get that true spotlight. With notable work in ‘Do the Right Thing’, ‘He Got Game’, and ‘Malcolm X’, Spike Lee etched his name among the legends of cinema. But that’s beside the point. When we hear “superfan”, Lee instantly comes to mind. His unwavering love for the Knickerbockers has set the bar high for other teams. Proudly donning the orange and blue courtside, the ‘School Daze’ director’s passion has spanned decades. So, fans like Spike Lee deserve to be celebrated, right?

Spike Lee became a Knicks season ticket holder at MSG in 1985. However, his fanatism dates back as early as the 1960s. As a Brooklyn native, the 67-year-old director/actor loves all things New York. The support system for New York teams, from the Knicks to the Yankees, never runs dry. Spike Lee’s unwavering love for basketball, especially the Knicks, has earned him a spot on a special roster.

Being a dedicated fan of the Knicks for the last 6 decades has been fruitful after all. This is because Spike Lee has been added to the Basketball Hall of Fame’s SuperFan Gallery. Apparently, only the ardent fans (read: devotees) of the NBA or any particular team make it to the HOF. Well, it seems the ‘committee’ has been late in adding Lee’s name! Meanwhile, the film director has nothing but gratitude to express. He said, “I never knew that could happen for fans… I sincerely thank the HOF for this totally unexpected blessing for my love of basketball and my crazy love for the NEW YORK KNICKERBOCKERS.”

It is not hard to guess that Shelton Jackson ‘Spike’ Lee has bore witness to many iconic moments in the team’s history. Well, we can quite vividly imagine, a 13YO Spike, watching his favorite team clinch their first championship and going “Woah! They’re amazing.” Who knows maybe at that moment in 1970, was enough to hook Spike Lee to the Knicks for life?

5 iconic Spike Lee moments involving the New York Knicks

As we had guessed, Spike Lee was indeed in the audience at Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals. The 13YO boy watched the New York Knicks claim their first championship. It must have been an unforgettable moment for Lee, even to this day. “It was a memory I will never forget,” the film maestro said. “Willis Reed coming back and the Garden went nuts. It was a very special moment in the Knicks history,” Spike Lee recalled.

Since becoming a season ticket holder, Lee has been a courtside staple at MSG. “I be Spike’d out, I could trip the referee,” New York’s native music mogul Jay-Z said in the song ‘Empire State of Mind’ as a tribute to Lee’s constant presence on the court at Knicks games. Donned in the iconic orange and blue, Spike makes it a point to turn up at the courtside to be the loudest cheerleader for the Knickerbockers.

Meanwhile, the Academy Award winner is famous for trash-talking opponents, notably, the Indiana Pacers legend Reggie Miller in the 90s. Lee allegedly motivated the icon to score 25 fourth-quarter points during Game 4 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals. Following his iconic performance, Reggie Miller showed a ‘choking’ gesture aimed at Spike Lee.

Besides witnessing iconic sporting moments at Madison Square Garden, Spike Lee has also been a legendary moment in 2010. One of his best memory came in December 2010. During music legend Prince’s sold-out “Welcome 2 America” tour, Lee was called on stage with stars like Jamie Foxx, Alicia Keys, and his family. Spike Lee’s son Jackson recalled stealing a tambourine and running along the stage. “It was crazy. It was dope,” Jackson said. Spike joined in, playing the tambourine himself. As Lee reflected, “That was a great moment. We weren’t expecting that.”

Remember when the New York Knicks knocked off the Cleveland Cavaliers 106-95 in Game 5 in their first round-off? Who was cheering the loudest on the sidelines? Spike Lee, of course. The championship-starved fanbase rejoiced as the Knicks secured their first playoff series win back in 2023. Post-game, Spike Lee was seen adorned in his classic Knickerbockers outfit, celebrating the sheer joy of witnessing his team win.

Well, there can be a myriad of fans out there, but surely there won’t be another Spike Lee. His level of devotion and dedication is second to none. The rightful Hall of Famer, Spike Lee will undoubtedly continue to cheer for the New York Knicks in years to come.