The New York Knicks have a large and devoted fan base, including many passionate celebrity supporters like Spike Lee and 50 Cent. Their presence in Manhattan and the accessibility of Madison Square Garden contribute to their popularity.
Key points
New York Knicks have a large fan base
Celebrity fans include Spike Lee and 50 Cent
Madison Square Garden is highly accessible
Knicks fans are known for their passion
The team's location in Manhattan boosts popularity
The New York Knicks boast one of the largest fan bases in American sports despite plenty of losing stretches in their history, and their presence right in the heart of Manhattan is a major reason why.
Not only is Madison Square Garden one of the most accessible NBA arenas in the United States, but the mere size of the city and the number of high-profile people in it make the Knicks a major draw whether they are winning or losing.
The Knicks are known especially for their passionate celebrity fans. Plenty of NBA teams have well-known fans, from the Lakers to the Celtics and beyond, but the Knicks are unique in that so many of their celebrity fans seem to be complete die-hards.
Who are the biggest celebrity Knicks fans? The Sporting News ranks them from least passionate to most.
Who are the most devoted fans of the New York Knicks?
Some of the most devoted fans include celebrities like Spike Lee and 50 Cent, known for their unwavering support.
Why are the Knicks considered to have one of the largest fan bases in sports?
The Knicks' large fan base is attributed to their location in Manhattan and the accessibility of Madison Square Garden, along with their historical significance.
What makes Knicks fans unique compared to fans of other NBA teams?
Knicks fans are unique due to the high number of celebrity supporters who are deeply passionate about the team, distinguishing them from fans of other NBA franchises.
How does Madison Square Garden contribute to the Knicks' popularity?
Madison Square Garden's accessibility and iconic status as an arena make it a major draw for fans, enhancing the Knicks' popularity regardless of their performance.
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Rapper 50 Cent is a native New Yorker and has been seen at Knicks games, but he seems to be a fair-weather fan. Take his word for it.
Despite tweeting frequently about the Knicks in the early 2010s, 50 Cent has wavered in recent years. "F— NEW YORK The KNICKS never win anyway," he tweeted in 2020 when he floated moving out of the state to avoid a potential new tax policy. After he actually moved to Houston, 50 Cent attended a Knicks playoff game in 2021 but tweeted "I'm glad I'm from Houston" after they lost.
After forming a business partnership with the Indiana Pacers in 2022, 50 Cent appeared to cross over to the other side in 2025. supporting the Pacers in the NBA Finals after they beat the Knicks to get there.
"New York, yes, I’m from New York. But I can’t lose my whole life. F— THAT take this s— back, I’m a Winner!" the rapper said on Instagram.
13. Stephen A. Smith
Stephen A. Smith probably shouldn't be so publicly pro-Knicks in such a prominent analyst role at ESPN, but the do-it-all TV personality has made it clear time and time again that he is a Knicks fan.
Smith referred to Miles McBride as "Michael McBride" in 2025, and he's feuded with Josh Hart as well as Jalen Brunson. Smith also isn't seen at nearly as many Knicks games as other celebrity fans, though he may get a pass on that simply because his ESPN schedule is wildly busy.
Comedian and former "Saturday Night Live" star is a quiet Knicks fan who doesn't often vocalize his thoughts about the team, but he frequently attends games. Rock doesn't seem to attend many games on his own or with one or two other people. When he is there, he tends to be in a large group of other celebrities like this one:
11. Jimmy Fallon
Like Rock, "The Tonight Show" host Jimmy Fallon isn't overtly passionate about the Knicks, but he does go out of his way to attend some games both in the regular season and the playoffs.
Fallon now has a connection with Josh Hart, as Hart hilariously untied his shoes courtside at Game 1 of the Knicks' 2026 playoff series with the 76ers:
Olympic gold medalist gymnast Suni Lee moved to New York in 2024, so while she may not be a lifelong Knicks fan, she appears to have taken up the cause pretty quickly. Lee has frequently attended games since late 2024, and she is known to be good friends with Knicks forward O.G. Anunoby.
9. Jon Stewart
Comedian and political commentator Jon Stewart is a big-time New York sports fan, and he's frequently seen at games. Stewart even stuck around during the franchise's lean years, though his words here in 2017 reveal he had little hope of the franchise ever turning itself around during his lifetime:
Actress and comedian Tina Fey wasn't born in New York, but she moved to the city to join "Saturday Night Live" and has remained there ever since, becoming a big Knicks fan along the way.
Fey is often seen sitting courtside at Madison Square Garden with former 30 Rock co-star Tracy Morgan, so Morgan might deserve some credit for getting her so invested.
7. Fat Joe
Fat Joe is all about New York sports. Yankees fans might remember his underwhelming pre-game performance before Game 3 of the 2024 World Series, when he stomped all over the mound in front of a stadium that was already drained of energy with a 2-0 series deficit, but the Knicks are just as important to the New York-based hip-hop artist.
Unlike some other celebrity fans, Fat Joe hasn't just been seen during the playoffs. He's frequently in the building during the regular season and has a relationship with plenty of current and former players.
6. Steve Schirripa
"The Sopranos" and "Blue Bloods" actor Steve Schirripa might not be one of the biggest names when it comes to Knicks fans, but you would have a hard time claiming he isn't one of the most passionate. On any given night, there is a good chance Schirippa is at the game, whether with his wife, his daughter, or friends.
Schirippa also makes regular appearances at Yankee Stadium, but Madison Square Garden is a safe bet to find him.
When former tennis star John McEnroe isn't on a tennis broadcast, he can often be found at Madison Square Garden. McEnroe has been attending Knicks games since his childhood, and the inside of the cover of the book he wrote is even covered in MSG ticket stubs.
In 2017, McEnroe happened to be nearby in the arena when former Knick Charles Oakley was infamously kicked out of the building. Later that year, McEnroe derided the Knicks for their struggles on the court. "I've been a Knicks fan since I was a kid, so this is just getting beyond belief," he said.
4. Ben Stiller
Actor Ben Stiller received some criticism for attending the Met Gala over Game 1 of the Knicks' playoff series against the 76ers in 2026, but let's be honest: he lives and breathes the Knicks on most nights.
Not only is Stiller a regular in courtside seats at Madison Square Garden, but he often live tweets Knicks games as if he were just an ordinary fan with 125 followers.
If Tracy Morgan isn't working and the Knicks are playing, there is a good chance he is at the game. The actor and comedian is a die-hard Knicks fan, making a habit of sitting courtside at Madison Square Garden and often keeping an optimistic tone when speaking publicly about the Knicks, unlike many of his fellow celebrity fans.
Morgan can even say he's converted other celebrities into Knicks fans. He frequently attends games with former "30 Rock" co-star Tina Fey, and he said in 2026 that he turned "Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe into a Knicks fan after he took him to a game. “He was humble at the beginning, but then towards the end of the game, he started cursing refs out,” Morgan joked on "The Tonight Show."
2. Timothee Chalamet
Many doubted actor Timothee Chalamet's sports fandom when he was chosen as the guest picker on "College GameDay" in 2024, but all he has done from that day onward is prove he is every bit as passionate a fan as those who sit several sections above him at Madison Square Garden.
A frequent attendee at both regular-season and playoff games, Chalamet wears his emotions on his sleeve at MSG and even passed on attending the Met Gala with girlfriend Kylie Jenner to sit courtside at Game 1 of the Knicks' playoff series against the 76ers in 2026.
Chalamet didn't just become a fan when he became famous. A Landry Fields tweet from 2010 proves the Oscar nominee has been all in on the Knicks since he was a child:
1. Spike Lee
Spike Lee is arguably as synonymous with the Knicks as any player in franchise history, as he has been attending games at Madison Square Garden for decades and isn't afraid to give opposing players a piece of his mind.
Lee might be best known in Knicks circles for feuding with Reggie Miller during the Knicks' playoff bouts with the Pacers in the 1990s. While he has calmed down every so slightly since those days, Lee is an MSG regular and wears Knicks gear from head to toe.
Anyone else might look ridiculous if they wore what Lee wears to games, but the director and filmmaker has made his passion for the Knicks part of his identity.
