In a building already electric with playoff stakes, it was the buzz beyond the hardwood that turned up the heat. Madison Square Garden, the iconic heart of New York sports, became the center of celebrity gravity Friday night as the Knicks fought to close out the Celtics in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The usual front-row faithful were out in force. Spike Lee, a fixture as classic as the Garden’s parquet floor, was back in his signature orange and blue. Actors Ben Stiller and Timothée Chalamet were seen courtside, trading cheers and anxious glances as the game tightened. But the Knicks playoff run has gone beyond basketball and it has become the ticket in town.Also read: Jayson Tatum’s absence fuels Celtics’ grit ahead of do-or-die Game 6 vs Knicks
And that meant new faces in the front row. Music legend Lenny Kravitz brought his effortless cool to the spotlight, making his presence known with the kind of rock star energy only he can deliver.
A-listers show up for high-stakes Knicks vs Celtics game
While the Knicks were looking to make franchise history with a playoff series win over Boston, the stands looked like the guest list of an awards show. Alongside longtime loyalists like Spike Lee and Stiller, Timothée Chalamet was all in on the tension and excitement, showing he is as much a Knicks fan as he is a fashion icon.Lenny Kravitz’s appearance drew buzz across social media, with fans noting that the Knicks’ playoff games have become as much a cultural event as they are a basketball spectacle. For Kravitz, who rarely makes courtside appearances, Game 6 at Madison Square Garden proved too big to miss.In a season where the Knicks are not just competing but commanding attention, the celebrity turnout is proof that basketball is once again synonymous with New York’s brightest stage. For stars of screen and stage, Knicks games have become the city’s hottest front row seat.
Also read: Jayson Tatum’s leg injury rattles Celtics, NBA title hopes wobble
More than a game, Knicks Playoff run is a celebrity magnet
The resurgence of the Knicks is more than a basketball storyline, it is a cultural movement. When the world’s most famous arena hosts postseason basketball, it draws the world’s most famous faces. From diehard director Spike Lee to the effortlessly stylish Timothée Chalamet, New York’s star power was on full display.
As the Knicks and Celtics battled for Eastern Conference glory, the presence of celebrities underscored what fans in the Garden already know, that this team has become appointment viewing, and the city is all in.
