The NBA Finals tipped off on Wednesday evening at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, with the New York Knicks defeating the San Antonio Spurs 105-95. The game marked the Knicks’ first Finals appearance in more than two decades.
The matchup drew a crowd of celebrities, sports figures, and business executives. Here are the notable attendees identified by news outlets and official broadcasts.
Ben Stiller
Ben Stiller, a longtime Knicks fan, was observed cheering in the stands during the game. After the Knicks’ victory, Stiller was seen leaving the arena with his phone, capturing the moment, according to a video shared by Page Six on X.
Spike Lee
Filmmaker Spike Lee attended the game wearing the Knicks’ blue and orange colors. Lee participated in the ESPN pre-game show at the venue. He has held New York Knicks season tickets since 1985, as reported by ESPN, and was recognized as a SuperFan by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024.
Tracy Morgan
Actor and comedian Tracy Morgan was spotted wearing a blue-and-orange Knicks T-shirt, along with a chain necklace and bracelet. In a May video with Complex Sneakers, Morgan stated that he purchased two pairs of Nike Kobe 5 “Bruce Lee” sneakers for each Knicks player in 2024. Morgan recently lent his voice to New York City subway announcements encouraging fans to use public transit to attend Knicks watch parties and games at Madison Square Garden.
Shaquille O’Neal
NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal arrived at the arena wearing a white T-shirt and blue Superman-print pants while carrying a suit jacket, according to a video posted by Page Six. O’Neal serves as a host for the NBA Finals pregame show “NBA Tip-Off” and the postgame show “Inside the NBA.”
Timothée Chalamet
Actor Timothée Chalamet was seen making his way through the arena ahead of the game, as shown in a video shared by SNY, a regional sports television network.
Henrik Lundqvist
Former New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist attended the game wearing a cream-colored jacket and a white-and-orange Knicks T-shirt, per a video from SNY Rangers. Lundqvist retired from the NHL in 2021 and currently works as a hockey analyst for TNT Sports.
Media and League Executives
Disney board member Bob Iger, Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro, ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro, and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver were also present at the game. During the broadcast, commentators referred to the group as a “murderers’ row of executives.” The NBA Finals air on ABC and are produced by ESPN, both owned by Disney.
National Anthem Performance
Grammy Award-winning singer Tori Kelly performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” before the game. Kelly is scheduled to release her sixth studio album on June 12.
Game 2 of the NBA Finals is expected to take place at Frost Bank Center in the coming days, with the series scheduled to continue until one team secures four wins.
