Courtside scramble: Knicks fans fight over Game 3 seats

It’s the ticket every New York celebrity wants right now. A courtside seat at the iconic Madison Square Garden to watch the Knicks play in the NBA Finals for the first time in more than a quarter of a century. The venue’s famed “Celebrity Row” has been gathering steam, much like team, in recent seasons and now regularly boasts a who’s who of New York celebrity culture. Timothee Chalamet, Ben Stiller, Spike Lee and Tina Fey are among the superfans often spotted sitting in the

front row. And with excitement in the Big Apple reaching fever-pitch during the past week, as Game 3 of the season-deciding series between New York and San Antonio, the first on the Knicks home court, draws closer, even the rich and famous are clamouring to secure the hottest tickets in town. Ticket prices for average punters have reached levels not seen in recent years — nosebleed seats start at US$3,500. Meanwhile, seats amongst celebrity row are being resold for up to US$250,000. However, many of

the Knicks celebrity fans are likely to be gifted tickets by the team’s billionaire owner James Dolan for their loyalty and support — in some cases spanning decades. 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. 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. The defining moment of his fandom was on May 8, 1970, when he skipped his jazz musician father’s concert to witness his team win their first championship. This experience triggered his lifelong passion. Ben Stiller A born and raised New Yorker, Ben Stiller became a superfan after his father Jerry Stiller started taking him along to games at MSG in 1973 which led him to witnessing the Knicks’ championship run.

He continued the family tradition by taking his own kids to games. His fandom runs so deep that he schedules his work around the Knicks’ season, travels for away games and is known to go viral for his excited reactions when they win. Timothee 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, who was born in Manhattan, considers basketball as part of his identity after he grew up with a grandmother who was a passionate Knicks fan. It’s been reported that when he was 12, he saved up his 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 that happened when Anunoby chased a loose ball, which ended up nearly hitting her and her son. She’s even managed to involve the team with her world of Hollywood 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 with him, and 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 last month. Having a deep appreciation for nostalgic teams from the 70s, he loves how modern squads channel their predecessors’ gritty defence. Tracy Morgan As a longtime fan, the comedian is at nearly every game and is always wearing Knicks merch. Growing up around sport in New York City during the late 1970s, he went to his first game around 1981. Described as a “die-hard” fan, he

is known for bringing a vocal and passionate presence to the courtside. 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.

Knicks, NBA Finals, Madison Square Garden, Celebrity Row, courtside seats, Timothee Chalamet, Kylie Jenner, Ben Stiller, Spike Lee, Tina Fey, James Dolan, OG Anunoby