The hottest ticket in New York City right now is a courtside seat at Madison Square Garden to watch the New York Knicks play in the NBA Finals for the first time in over 25 years. The venue's famed "Celebrity Row" has been gathering momentum alongside the team, now regularly featuring a who's who of New York celebrity culture.
Celebrity Superfans
Timothée Chalamet, Ben Stiller, Spike Lee, and Tina Fey are among the superfans often spotted in the front row. With excitement reaching fever pitch in the Big Apple as Game 3 of the series between New York and San Antonio approaches, even the rich and famous are clamouring for the hottest tickets in town.
Ticket Prices Soar
Ticket prices for average fans have reached unprecedented levels, with nosebleed seats starting at US$3,500. Meanwhile, seats in celebrity row are being resold for up to US$250,000. However, many celebrity fans are likely to receive complimentary tickets from the team's billionaire owner, James Dolan, in recognition of their loyalty and support, which in some cases spans decades.
Notable Knicks Fans
Other big-name Knicks fans include Alicia Keys, 50 Cent, Ethan Hawke, Julianne Moore, Adam Sandler, Larry David, Chris Rock, John McEnroe, Michael J Fox, and Fat Joe.
Spike Lee
Academy Award winner Spike Lee has gone from sitting in the upper rafters as a child to spending about $300,000 per season thanks to his big-screen success. Known for his colourful outfits and equally colourful courtside antics, Lee has been a longtime superfan. His defining moment came on May 8, 1970, when he skipped his jazz musician father's concert to witness his team win their first championship, sparking a lifelong passion.
Ben Stiller
A born and raised New Yorker, Ben Stiller became a superfan after his father Jerry Stiller started taking him to games at MSG in 1973, leading him to witness the Knicks' championship run. He continues the family tradition by taking his own children to games. His fandom runs so deep that he schedules his work around the Knicks' season, travels to away games, and is known for his viral excited reactions when they win.
Timothée Chalamet & Kylie Jenner
The movie star is a longtime Knicks fan and has started bringing his girlfriend, Kylie Jenner, along to games. He is such a huge fan that he has skipped the Met Gala twice—in 2025 and 2026—to ensure he is courtside. Chalamet, born in Manhattan, considers basketball part of his identity after growing up with a grandmother who was a passionate Knicks fan. Reports say that when he was 12, he saved money from a Disney commercial appearance to buy season tickets.
Anne Hathaway
Described as a "gentle, loving, motherly fan," the actress always wants the Knicks "to know that I know who they are and that they're gonna win." She is a mega fan of current star OG Anunoby, and NBA followers may recall the viral courtside moment when Anunoby chased a loose ball that nearly hit her and her son. She has even involved the team in her Hollywood world after Karl-Anthony Towns' cameo in The Devil Wears Prada 2.
Jimmy Fallon
The late-night TV host is a frequent attendee who sometimes brings his young daughter. He loves the electric, tight-knit community atmosphere at the Garden. The known prankster got some of his own back when guard Josh Hart untied Fallon's shoelaces during a live playoff game last month. With a deep appreciation for nostalgic teams from the 1970s, he loves how modern squads channel their predecessors' gritty defence.
Tracy Morgan
As a longtime fan, the comedian is at nearly every game, always wearing Knicks merchandise. Growing up around sports in New York City during the late 1970s, he attended his first game around 1981. Described as a "die-hard" fan, he is known for bringing a vocal and passionate presence to the courtside.
Tina Fey
The superfan is "hoping" to attend a Knicks final as Tracy Morgan's guest, she told the Today Show on Tuesday. "I hope to," she said. "I feel terrible saying that because I go as Tracy Morgan's guest, and I'm sure there are people who have been going for, like, 37 years who would want to murder me for my seat. But I think I might get to go with Tracy." She was spotted at a game in April sitting next to Chalamet, who went viral for "manspreading" on Fey. "We had no beef. It was all good," she later confirmed.
