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Taylor Swift to Spike Lee: Knicks returning to NBA Finals after 27 years draws top celebs to MSG
The Knicks' 3-1 NBA Finals lead has energized NYC, raising hopes for the team's first Finals since 1999. Stars like Taylor Swift and Spike Lee have joined.
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New York Knicks return to the NBA Finals has brought together the whole of New York, merging politics, entertainment and sports at the same time.
The Knicks currently lead the series 3-1 over the San Antonio Spurs and the team is staring at a potentially historic run at the Madison Square Garden
The energy in New York has been different since the Knicks started leading the series. It became electrifying after the Knicks mounted a historic comeback in the fourth quarter to win Game 4 of the NBA Finals from the cusp of defeat.
The last time the New York team was in the NBA Finals was 1999. Their last championship win was in 1973. And a win this year would be more than historic for the city.
NYC Celebrities Turn Up For Knicks
Inside the arena, celebrities have been turning out to support their teams, including Knicks superfans Timothée Chalamet, Ben Stiller, Spike Lee and Tracy Morgan and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Also read: Why Taylor Swift attended NBA Finals Game 4 at Madison Square Garden without Travis Kelce
Game 3 also featured an appearance from President Donald Trump. He'd be the first sitting POTUS to go to an NBA Finals game. The last sitting US President to attend any NBA game was Barack Obama in 2015, according to The Athletic.
Spike Lee notably wore his Pope Leo XIV jersey. Jay-Z, meanwhile, made a surprise appearance after nearly 30 years since he sat courtside last time. Timothee Chalamet has attended several of the Knick’s games and, unsurprisingly, was also there for the game.
But he biggest surprise was the appearance of Taylor Swift at the Madison Square Garden for the Game 4. It is the same venue where Swift is set to tie the knot with Travis Kelce, a few months later.
Does This Mean More Pressure?
While this is a sight to see on television, it has also led to an extreme hike in prices of the tickets.
Also read: Cardi B says Donald Trump brought 'dark' energy to MSG as Knicks lost crucial NBA Finals Game 3
Josh Hart called ticket prices "ridiculous," and said they were keeping out "a lot of people who have been waiting for this moment for a very long time." However, since the POTUS attended the third game, the prices were reduced due to increase in security and wait time.
Meanwhile, a Game 3 watch party was cancelled to be more vigilant since the president was attending the game. It sparked massive backlash from fans as NYPD and Madison Square Garden released conflicting statements.
