Knicks‑Spurs Finals: Who Came to the Garden

The Knicks are back in New York for their first Finals game in 27 years, and the crowd was packed with familiar faces. Fans saw a mix of Hollywood stars and former NBA legends cheering on the team from the front row. Timothée Chalamet, a big Knicks fan, flew in with Fat Joe on a private jet. He shouted “Knicks in four, baby” as the plane landed. Ben Stiller and his wife Christine Taylor were also courtside, a habit he kept from the earlier games. He took many photos on his phone during press events, a habit he has shown in past playoffs. Spike Lee wore a custom Knicks jersey while SNL cast members Tracy Morgan and Tina Fey sat beside “Law & Order” actors Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni.

The arena also hosted a wave of former Knicks players, from Patrick Ewing to Allan Houston and Jeremy Lin. Other New York sports icons were in attendance, including former baseball stars Eli Manning and Derek Jeter, as well as pitcher John Franco. Even the mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani, chose standing‑room seats he paid over $1, 000 for. The event drew national attention when former President Donald Trump was seen in a suite after an invitation from owner James Dolan. His presence sparked talk about extra security and crowding in the city. Ticket prices for Game 3 were among the highest for any sporting event, with an average of $7, 351. A special courtside seat sold for $1 million in a charity auction.

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