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The New York Knicks may not have the same historical success of many of the NBA's marquee franchises, but that hasn't stopped them from producing star-studded affairs at every home game.
Madison Square Garden has become known for welcoming all kinds of stars to its Knicks games, creating a unique atmosphere that very few teams in sports can replicate. Dubbed "celebrity row," the group of fans usually includes those who are both famous and massive Knicks fans living their dream of getting first-hand access to New York contests.
As the Knicks have gotten closer and closer to an NBA title, New York's celebrity fans have taken a seat in the spotlight alongside the team. Those fans are carefully curated by the team to ensure the best environment possible.
Here's how celebrities end up on celebrity row at Madison Square Garden.
MORE: When was the last time the Knicks won an NBA championship?
What is celebrity row at Knicks games?
Every Knicks home game at Madison Square Garden features a section specifically held off just for celebrity fans. The row, which is courtside, has become famous among Knicks games for attracting stars who are huge Knicks fans, like actors Ben Stiller and Timothee Chalamet.
Celebrities also get special perks compared to other fans, including using a private entrance and access to a special box with food and a bar.
"It's become a coveted place where you can do some really creative things. At this point, high net-worth people will pay for those seats," former Knicks PR chief Joe Favorito told Front Office Sports. "Win or lose, it's where you want to be if you're a celebrity. Other places have tried it. But it's never been as successful as it has at the Garden."
MORE: Ranking the most devoted celebrity Knicks fans
Where is celebrity row at Madison Square Garden?
Celebrity row at Madison Square Garden is located courtside across from the benches and next to the table that holds national announcers for the game. MSG's goal is to give those celebrities camera time, which is why they are in camera view during a typical broadcast.
"Sometimes you say celebrity row at a game and it's one or two people... this is an ENTIRE celebrity row."
MORE: How much does Timothee Chalamet spend on his Knicks tickets?
How to get on celebrity row at Knicks games
Madison Square Garden has a team of people whose job it is to invite celebrities to celebrity row for games. The idea is that MSG believes celebrities will attract more fans to games and create a special atmosphere that only New York games can attain.
However, there are a variety of factors that go into those invites, and it's not only simply inviting the most famous people. MSG prioritizes loyalty among its celebrity fans, which is why Timothee Chalamet, Ben Stiller and Tracy Morgan are staples at Knicks games.
"You can’t show up courtside and be a fan of the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder," Favorito told The New York Times. "You have to take care of people who have real loyalty."
Celebrities then help market the team throughout the game simple by being courtside.
"If you're an A-level person and we know the fans are going to go bananas when your picture goes up on the scoreboard, then there's a value having you there," Barry Watkins, the Madison Square Garden's former executive vice president for communications and administration, told The New York Times in 2014. "We think it's a big part of the brand. Win or lose, it's one of the reasons people come to the games."
James Dolan, who owns both the Knicks and Madison Square Garden, has free reign to override his team and decide which celebrities deserve a seat. Therefore, celebrities must be on their best behavior or else rist losing access.
How much do Knicks courtside tickets cost?
Knicks courtside tickets are among the most expensive in sports. In 2020, Spike Lee said he spent $300,000. a year on his season-tickets, and that price has since increased.
MORE: How much does Spike Lee pay for courtside seats?
Do celebrities pay for Knicks tickets?
For much of celebrity row's existence, celebrities' tickets where free and comped by the team in exchange for marketability. However, that freedom also created a high bar, allowing MSG to cherry-pick celebrities based on loyalty and status.
In return, celebrities are expected to cooperate with the team over the course of the game. That includes being on the jumbotron, assisting with promotions and potentially donating to the company's Garden of Dreams foundation.
Knicks celebrity row regulars
Spike Lee
Lee is the most famous Knicks fan, but he's actually not a part of celebrity row. Lee has season tickets dating back to the mid-1980s, and pays for his own seats across the way from celebrity row.
Ben Stiller
A Longtime Knicks fan, Stiller is at many of New York's home games and is as loyal to the team as any Knicks fan. He's even taken to filming his own videos while sitting courtside during games.
Mitch said no pic.twitter.com/855awpc5bI
— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) May 22, 2026Timothee Chalamet
Chalamet has been a Knicks fan since he was a kid, so his spot along celebrity row is no surprise. In recent years, he has brought his girlfriend, Kylie Jenner, to join him at home games.
Timothée Chalamet courtside at MSG for Knicks-Hawks Game 2 🗽 pic.twitter.com/ZvTc9aqwCs
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 21, 2026Tracy Morgan
Morgan's presence on celebrity row dates back to his time as an actor for "Saturday Night Live" and "30 Rock." He is a native New Yorker who also was a Knicks fan as a kid.
Edie Falco
Falco is a Brooklyn native and self-proclaimed Knicks fan who often attends home games along celebrity row.
John McEnroe
When McEnroe isn't broadcasting a tennis match, he may be attending a Knicks game. McEnroe grew up in New York City and still resides in the area.
Knicks celebrity row history
In the 1990s, the Knicks began using celebrity row to monetize the games in multiple ways, creating a and exclusive club within the games. That coincided with Knicks' success, as the team was a contender for much of the decade that included two NBA Finals appearances.
Over the years, some celebrities, like Stiller, have maintained their spot, while others have come and gone.
How much have things changed since 1999? Here's what celebrity row looked like for Game 4 of the Finals - the last year the Knicks made it that far until 2026 pic.twitter.com/6cf6mrxDCy
— Velodus✨ (@velodus) May 26, 2026Before he became president, Donald Trump would occasionally find himself along celebrity row. John F. Kennedy Jr., who was one of the biggest celebrities of the 1990s, also frequented courtside seats at Madison Square Garden.
Celebrity row has also featured some quirky moments. Tracy Morgan once got sick during a game and had to receive medical attention.
— Underdog (@Underdog) March 18, 2025And, one time, OG Anunoby flew into Anne Hathaway during an October 2024 game.
OG Anunoby gets some stuff on Anne Hathaway pic.twitter.com/gp6tNkiYr8
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) November 14, 2024
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