Spike Lee: An Iconic Knicks Fan

ParallelDesk 12:45:11 PM, 27 April 2023

"Spike Lee Cannes 2018" by Georges Biard is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/.
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New York Knicks fans have seen many celebrities attend their home games over the years, but perhaps none are as passionate about the team as Spike Lee. The renowned American filmmaker and actor is a familiar face at Madison Square Garden, having been a Knicks season ticket holder since 1985. Lee's love for the Knicks dates back to his childhood in Brooklyn, where he grew up watching the team play. He vividly recalls attending Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals, which saw the Knicks secure their first-ever championship. It was a moment that Lee treasures to this day. "It was a memory I will never forget," Lee said in an interview. "Willis Reed coming back and the Garden went nuts. It was a very special moment in Knicks history." Lee is also known for his trash-talking when it comes to opposing teams' star players. His most famous foe was Indiana Pacers legend Reggie Miller, whom Lee famously goaded during the 1990s. Miller's spectacular 25-point fourth-quarter performance during Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals is still talked about today, with many attributing his success to Lee's taunts. Despite the Knicks' struggles during the 2000s and 2010s, Lee never wavered in his support for the team. Even when the Nets relocated to Brooklyn in 2012, Lee remained loyal to the Knicks, declaring that he was "orange and blue" through and through. On Wednesday night, Lee and the rest of the Knicks' long-suffering fanbase finally had reason to celebrate. The team's 106-95 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5 of their first-round series secured their first playoff series win since 2013. Lee was visibly ecstatic, seen celebrating on the sidelines in his Knicks gear. The win sets up a second-round showdown against either the Miami Heat or the Milwaukee Bucks. Whatever the outcome, there's little doubt that Lee will be there to cheer his beloved Knicks on every step of the way.