Madison Square Garden always brings out the stars, but Monday night has taken things to another level.
Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals is the first may feature the biggest confluence of celebrities outside of an awards show or the Met Gala. The Knicks have a gaggle of celebrity fans who attend almost every playoff game, and they’ll all be there, but things have been turned up a notch.
Monday night’s contest is the first NBA Finals game at MSG in 27 years. The home team also brings a 2–0 series lead over the Spurs, and a 13-game winning streak with it. The Knicks have a shot at history and their famous fans want to be part of it.
Here’s a look at all the celebrities who are attending Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
Donald Trump
The biggest name and most controversial celeb attending the game, President Trump’s presence had a big impact on fans and media alike. The watch parties that typically surround Madison Square Garden during Knicks playoff games have been banned, while wait times to enter the arena for fans and media ballooned due to enhanced security measures. There will be a ton of conversation about Trump’s presence in the coming days.
President Trump has arrived for Game 3. pic.twitter.com/GLTiESt8hH
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 9, 2026
The scene around MSG is already getting crowded. pic.twitter.com/jMwgN6Os5t
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 8, 2026Spike Lee
You knew he would be there. Lee was in San Antonio for the opening games of the series, and he’s in his usual courtside seat for Game 3. It wouldn’t be a Knicks playoff game without the Oscar-winning writer and director.
Spike Lee in the building for Game 3 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ibAAIC2TGH
— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) June 8, 2026
He’s also rocking a Pope Leo jersey, a nod to the Pope’s shared alma mater with the ‘Nova Knicks …
Spike Lee with the Pope Leo jersey for NBA Finals Game 3 pic.twitter.com/mYMXrn9GG8
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) June 8, 2026Timothée Chalamet
Chalamet was in San Antonio for both of the Knicks’ wins in the first two games of the series, and it seems as if he’ll be at every game for the series. The franchise has never won a title during the 30 years the Dune star has been on the planet. As a die-hard, his dedication makes a lot of sense. He’s the face of the next generation of Knicks fans.
Timothee Chalamet with Josh Safdie courtside pic.twitter.com/ynNl0GDpxm
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 9, 2026Josh Safdie
Safdie is sitting with Chalamet, who he directed in Marty Supreme.
Ben Stiller
Another celeb Knicks fan who was in San Antonio for the opening two games, there was no way Stiller was going to miss this one. The Tropic Thunder star is situated courtside as usual and will no doubt be one of the more intense fans in attendance.
Ben Stiller is back at MSG for Game 3! 👀 pic.twitter.com/ldYj6oclRV
— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) June 8, 2026Tina Fey
Tina Fey is in the building for Game 3. She has been spotted courtside multiple times this postseason, and she was seen in a personalized jersey walking in with Tracy Morgan on Monday night.
Ben Stiller, Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan and Jeremy Lin in the building for Game 3. pic.twitter.com/c2O0skRlRi
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) June 8, 2026Tracy Morgan
Morgan has long been a courtside fixture at Knicks games, and this will be the biggest one he’s seen in person yet. It isn’t a game at MSG without the SNL alum and 30 Rock star. He’ll be in his usual spot for Game 3 and is probably in for a lot of camera time.
Tracy Morgan courtside pic.twitter.com/oPgbX7MrnR
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 9, 2026Chris Rock
Another fixture at Knicks games, Rock grew up in Brooklyn and has often been courtside at MSG.
Chris Rock at MSG tonight pic.twitter.com/umPfpGxFnA
— Mauro (@muhfuknfunnyguy) June 9, 2026John McEnroe
McEnroe is another New Yorker sho grew up in Queens. He’s sitting next to Chris Rock tonight.
Ernie Johnson: “I’m telling you something, boys and girls- SPORTS! THERE IS NOTHING LIKE IT!”
Charles Barkley: “I’m not gonna lie- I got goosebumps.” #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/ohZoYKxlBT
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 9, 2026Larry David
Larry David is in the building! Hopefully this doesn’t end the way his interaction with Shaq on Curb Your Enthusiasm did.
Larry David courtside pic.twitter.com/67QpdBNgt1
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 9, 2026Mariska Hargitay
Hargitay has been to a ton of Knicks games and is courtside for Game 3. The Law & Order Special Victims Unit star grew up in LA, but is a huge fan of the team. Knicks guard Jalen Brunson is a huge fan of her show and the two have struck up a friendship.
Everyone: “The president’s here! Jay-Z’s here!”
Anyone named Brunson: Liv and El are here! pic.twitter.com/AIlcH1xeUN
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 9, 2026Christopher Meloni
Hargitay’s long-time SVU co-star is courtside with her.
When somebody who has committed especially heinous crimes is in the building pic.twitter.com/Qq5U3Qh5Ut
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) June 9, 2026Derek Jeter
Jeter was once Mr. New York and led the Yankees to five World Series titles. The 14-time All-Star and Hall of Famer had to be there for this game.
Derek Jeter and Eli Manning courtside pic.twitter.com/a34z63PdtI
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 9, 2026Eli Manning
Manning led the Giants to two Super Bowl victories, so he’s New York sports royalty. It’s fitting that he’d be in the building for the biggest basketball game the city has seen in nearly 30 years.
Jay-Z
Jay-Z is also courtside tonight. He grew up in the Marcy Houses project in Brooklyn, before going to high school in Trenton. He used to own a minority piece of the Brooklyn Nets but has also supported the Knicks.
Jay-Z courtside pic.twitter.com/7ZvqJXMp7T
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 9, 2026Fat Joe
The 55-year-old rapper is a Bronx native and one of the Knicks’ biggest fans. He attended the off-day press conference on Sunday and asked Knicks head coach Mike Brown about his shoes.
Eli Manning, DJ Khaled and Fat Joe make their way to MSG. pic.twitter.com/ctfXDfqT8n
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) June 8, 2026DJ Khaled
DJ Khaled is sitting courtside with Fat Joe. The 50-year-old rapper is a Louisiana native but has become a big Knicks fan after years of supporting the Miami Heat.
Zohran Mamdani
New York’s 34-year-old mayor brought the NBA Finals to the city in his first six months in office. Now that’s delivering for voters. Mamdani announced he spent nearly $1,000 on standing room tickets to the game. He’s there, cheering with the rest of the fans.
New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani enters Madison Square Garden.@NYCMayor | #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/Yg47NWasv8
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) June 9, 2026Jon Stewart
Stewart grew up on the Upper East Side and is a huge Knicks fan. He’s courtside tonight.
Jon Stewart courtside pic.twitter.com/3IONp7N1F4
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 9, 2026Patrick Ewing
Ewing is Knicks royalty, and led the franchise to the NBA Finals twice, in 1994 and ‘99. He was at both games in San Antonio and is in attendance Monday night.
Big Pat in the house.
Patrick Ewing is at MSG for Game 3 of the NBA Finals 🫡 pic.twitter.com/zC4aq0gXh4
— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) June 8, 2026Jeremy Lin
Linsanity is back at Madison Square Garden. The former Knicks guard, who set MSG on fire for a few weeks in 2012, is in attendance for Game 3.
LINSANITY AT THE NBA FINALS.
Jeremy Lin arrives at Madison Square Garden for Game 3! ⭐ pic.twitter.com/vxIrWoClH0
— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) June 8, 2026Danhausen
WWE star Danhausen is at Madison Square Garden for the game. He had previously cursed the Knicks to spite ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, but after a fan paid him to lift it, the team has been on a roll.
.@DanhausenAD is in the house.
Since he lifted his curse on the Knicks, the team as been on a ROLL. pic.twitter.com/0txJ0EOCV2
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 8, 2026Cardi B
Cardi B performed at halftime of Game 3. The 33-year-old rapper was born in Washington Heights and grew up in the South Bronx.
“I’m pretty sure those aren’t Bs”
–– Chuck on Cardi B pic.twitter.com/Cy5W58zQHa
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 9, 2026Michael Imperioli
Imperioli is from Mount Vernon, New York and he grew up in Brewster, New York. He starred as Christopher Moltisanti on The Sopranos and has been at plenty of Knicks games in the past.
marone. pic.twitter.com/Md1pCVEVni
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) June 9, 2026More NBA Finals From Sports Illustrated
Listen to SI’s NBA podcast, Open Floor, below or on Apple and Spotify. Watch the show on SI’s YouTube channel.
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow