Why is Spike Lee a Knicks fan? Explaining the star’s decades-long support for New York City’s NBA franchise | Sporting News United Kingdom

Madison Square Garden has a history of bringing together some of the biggest celebrities New York has to offer and putting them under one roof to watch Knicks basketball.

Some stars come and go depending on when they’re in the city. Others are lifers who wouldn’t dare miss an opportunity to watch their favorite team play.

Ben Stiller, Tracy Morgan, Chris Rock, Fat Joe are just a few of the Knicks’ most loyal fans, all of them frequently in attendance. But no celebrity is more associated with the franchise than filmmaker Spike Lee.

Lee, 67, has been a Knicks staple for decades. His dedication to New York City’s NBA team has made him one of the most recognizable fans in the sport.

The Oscar winner’s allegiance to the Knicks has tied him to some of the biggest moments in the franchise’s history. But how did he end up a Knicks fan in the first place? The Sporting News takes a closer look.

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Why is Spike Lee a Knicks fan?

Lee is a proud product of Brooklyn, New York, and grew up a Knicks fan.

Although he didn’t become a season ticket holder until 1985, his memories at Madison Square Garden date back to well before that.

One of Lee’s first and fondest memories of the Knicks was watching New York win Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals in person as a 13-year-old.

“It was a memory I will never forget,” Lee said after purchasing the net as a piece of memorabilia from the iconic game. “Willis Reed coming back and the Garden went nuts. It was a very special moment in Knicks history.”

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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 own Jay-Z said in the song “Empire State of Mind” as a tribute to Lee’s constant presence on the court at Knicks games.

Lee is always decked out in blue and orange, making him impossible to miss whenever you’re watching a Knicks game at the Garden on TV. He’s frequently seen chatting with the players, as he sits close enough that he can give them a piece of his mind.

Lee’s most famous moment as a Knicks fan was his interaction with Pacers star Reggie Miller during Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals. Lee was credited for motivating Miller’s legendary 24-point fourth quarter to complete a comeback win over the Knicks, but New York went on to win the series anyway.

The filmmaker has plenty more memorable moments as a Knicks superfan at Madison Square Garden, some of which you can watch below.

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Lee stuck with the Knicks even during New York’s darkest days as a franchise, and now he’s seen it through as the 2024 squad looks to make a run to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 24 years.