Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals was about more than just the action on the court. With the New York Knicks returning to the NBA Finals stage at Madison Square Garden for the first time in 27 years, the atmosphere felt like one of the biggest nights in sports and entertainment. Carrying a 2-0 series lead over the San Antonio Spurs and a 13-game playoff winning streak, the Knicks had the city buzzing as fans packed the iconic arena hoping to witness another step toward a championship. Instead, the Spurs crashed the party with a 115-111 victory, cutting New York’s series lead to 2-1.
As expected, the occasion attracted a star-studded crowd. Madison Square Garden, already known for drawing high-profile names, was filled with celebrities from the worlds of sports, music, comedy, film, and politics. Among the notable attendees was Donald Trump, joining a packed house of famous Knicks supporters as New York hosted its first NBA Finals game since 1999.
Full List of Celebrities Spotted at Knicks vs Spurs NBA Finals Game 3
| Celebrity / Public Figure |
|---|
| Donald Trump |
| Timothée Chalamet |
| Chris Rock |
| Mariska Hargitay |
| Jay-Z |
| Derek Jeter |
| Eli Manning |
| Al Sharpton |
| Spike Lee |
| Fat Joe |
| DJ Khaled |
| Tina Fey |
| Tracy Morgan |
| Larry David |
| Patrick Ewing |
| Walt “Clyde” Frazier |
| Dave Chappelle |
| Jadakiss |
| Robert Kraft |
| Bill Bradley |
| Jordyn Woods |
| John McEnroe |
| Avery Wilson |
| Christopher Meloni |
| Josh Safdie |
| Ben Stiller |
| Jon Stewart |
| Danhausen |
| Cardi B |
| Zohran Mamdani |
$1 Million Celebrity Row Seats: Why Knicks NBA Finals Game 3 Made History
The excitement around Game 3 of the NBA Finals reached another level at Madison Square Garden, where two coveted Celebrity Row seats sold for a staggering $1 million through a Knicks charity auction, according to ESPN. The seats, located courtside near center court, were part of a fundraiser benefiting the Garden of Dreams Foundation. The winning bid was jointly placed by law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP and private equity firm Veritas Capital, marking the largest single donation in the foundation’s history.
What made the sale even more remarkable is that these seats are not normally available to the public. Positioned in the exclusive Celebrity Row section, they are typically reserved for high-profile Knicks supporters such as Tracy Morgan and Timothée Chalamet. Demand for Game 3 was sky-high across the arena, with upper-level tickets selling for more than $6,000 on resale platforms, while standard courtside experiences were reportedly commanding prices north of $75,000.
