Spike Lee takes his place as a superfan in the Basketball Hall of Fame

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – As film director Spike Lee autographed a green Jayson Tatum jersey for a young Boston Celtics fan, the renowned New York Knicks superfan asked him, “How come he [Tatum] didn’t play during the Olympics? Why did he sit?”

Without skipping a beat, the youngster asked Lee, “Why weren’t there any Knicks playing during the Olympics?”

As NBA fans at the Basketball Hall of Fame store looked on and laughed, Lee smiled and said, “Hey, how old are you?”

The young Celtics fan said, “I’m 12.”

Lee, who was wearing a Knicks bucket hat and an orange vest over a Knicks sweatshirt, said, “I hope you’re there opening night, because even though you’re hoisting a [NBA championship] banner, you’re losing [to the Knicks].”

Lee, actor and LA Clippers fan Billy Crystal, Philadelphia 76ers fan Alan Horwitz and actor and Los Angeles Lakers fan Jack Nicholson (who didn’t attend) were officially added to the James F. Goldstein SuperFan Gallery on Sunday afternoon at the Hall of Fame. A Knicks jersey with “Lee” and “No. 40” on the back and a Knicks player contract signed by Lee in 1990 were displayed in a large glass-enclosed case at the SuperFan Gallery. Hours later, the 2024 Basketball Hall of Fame class headlined by Vince Carter and Chauncey Billups was inducted at nearby Symphony Hall.

The SuperFan Gallery honors fans for their passion and love of basketball and acknowledges their unique and well-known fandom. Lee has won an Academy Award, two Primetime Emmys and two Peabody Awards. He has won awards for his basketball movie, He Got Game.

“I didn’t even know that thing existed,” Lee told Andscape. “So, it was a big surprise. Things are lining up this year … I got two [special] Oscars, too, so this is good.”

Lee, 67, credits his love of the Knicks from his late father Bill, a renowned jazz bassist and composer.

The Lees attended Knickerbockers games together at the third Madison Square Garden before it was demolished in 1968 and the current Garden was built. Lee said he attended a deciding Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals — and missed one of his dad’s concerts — when the Knicks defeated the Los Angeles Lakers. He wears a necklace with former Knicks coach Red Holzman’s 1973 NBA championship ring hanging from it.

“My father was a Knicks fan who was taking me to the old Garden on 8th Avenue,” Lee said. “My father was a big sports fan. My love of sports come from my late father. My mother was a cinephile. That is where the film thing comes in. Music, sports and cinema. My father hated Hollywood films.”

Lee, who frequently wears his Knicks gear in public, is one of the most recognized American sports fans home and away.

Lee trash-talks opposing players while standing in excitement during the games. He exudes passion when the Knicks are winning and shows pain when they are losing. Lee also had a rivalry and ongoing beef with then-Indiana Pacers star guard and Hall of Famer Reggie Miller during six playoff showdowns. Since 1973, the Knicks have been to the NBA Finals only twice, losing to the Houston Rockets in 1994 and to the San Antonio Spurs in 1999.

When asked if it was tough being a devoted Knicks fan, Lee said, “I don’t think it’s tough. It got me here in the Hall of Fame.”

While starring with the Toronto Raptors, Carter recalled playing against the Knicks during the playoffs with Lee sitting courtside talking trash.

“When you got in an argument with Spike Lee, you’ve made it,” Carter said. “I played well in the regular season [against New York]. I remember early in the Garden in the first quarter, Spike was like, ‘No, man, this is New York! This New York, kid. We ain’t doing that here.’ Is he talking to me? I had some back-and-forth with him, especially the second time.

“We got swept the first time. I don’t want to talk about that. Let’s talk about the second time. I just remember, Spike Lee could get up and he is talking junk and you make him sit down, you’re doing something. I was able to do that the second time. It’s cool to see him go in [to the Hall of Fame].”

Toronto Raptors fan Nav Bhatia told Andscape that Lee once got him moved from his seat in Madison Square Garden. Bhatia is also a member of the SuperFan Gallery.

“I’m letting him into the SuperFan Gallery,” Bhatia told Andscape. “He’s passionate about basketball. I remember in 2001 when we were in the playoffs in New York, he was there trash-talking to my man V.C. [Carter]. I was sitting behind them and he made them change my seat to the other side because I was trash-talking also. And he didn’t like it. But we won the game.

“But he is a good friend of mine now. It’s all good. I’m really excited about this.”

Lee attended the Hall of Fame 2024 Enshrinement Tip-Off Celebration and Awards Gala about a one-hour drive from here at the Mohegan Sun Casino on Saturday night. Among the honorees was the NBA Inside Stuff television program, which was hosted and produced by sports commentator Ahmad Rashad. After the show was honored, Lee was given the microphone and asked Rashad for a prediction on his Knicks this upcoming season in front of Hall of Famers such as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Julius “Dr. J” Erving.

“The last time we won it was the 1972-73 season. Are we going to win? It’s been over 50 years. We got a squad this year. Leon Rose doing his thing, we got KAT [Karl-Anthony Towns], one of the best point guards in the league [Jalen Brunson], we got defense. What’s gonna happen this year?” Lee asked.

Rashad said, “I think they win the whole thing. I think this is the year.”

So, why does Lee believe the Knicks are going to finally win a title this upcoming season 52 years after the last one?

“I believe it. [Knicks president] Leon Rose and [Knicks executive vice president] World Wide Wes [William Wesley] are doing their thing,” Lee said, pointing at his necklace. “This is Red Holzman’s world championship ring. This is the last time we won. It’s been over 50 years. This is the year.”

Lee is known for attending key Knicks road games. He has attended WNBA New York Liberty playoff games in Brooklyn, New York. But when the Knicks open the season on the road against the 2023 NBA champion Celtics on Oct. 22, will Lee be there?

“No. I’m not going to Boston,” Lee said. “If it’s the playoffs, I will go. The regular season? Uh-uh.”