Comedian Kevin Hart and ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith are among those who think celebrity Knicks superfan Spike Lee should get a championship ring after the franchise won its first title in 53 years.
Hart shouted out Lee in an Instagram video posted on Sunday.
“Give Spike a ring,” Hart said of Lee, who has likely paid many millions for tickets over the last 40 years. “Spike deserves a f–kin championship ring, and I’m saying it here. Give Spike a New York Knicks championship ring.”
Responding to a tweet advocating for the 69-year-old director to get a ring, Smith wrote Sunday, “I completely support this for Spike Lee. No Knicks’ fan deserves this more than him.”
Fans were divided in their responses to Smith.
“I’m sorry but this man ain’t shoot one shot or grabbed a rebound,” one X user wrote. “Let him enjoy the parade just like the rest of us. He’s good.”
“No. Players, coaches, executives and other members of the organization get rings, not fans, even if they’re superfans,” another wrote.
One supportive fan wrote, “Give the man his flowers! And the ring.”
“Agree. Fans are part of the team and he’s been there for the good, the bad and the ugly when a lot of us (like me) wouldn’t even watch on TV,” another wrote. “I saw the 70 and 73 teams as a teen and waited in hope for this day but Spike was the ultimate fan!!”
Unlike those who frequent Celebrity Row, Lee pays for his seats. As of March 2020, Lee was spending $300,000 a year for his pair of courtside season tickets.
Lee has had tickets since 1985 after the Knicks drafted Patrick Ewing. It’s unclear how much he’s paid in sum over about 40 years, and his seats weren’t always courtside, but it’s safe to say he’s spent several million.
He also travels for the playoffs and was in attendance in Atlanta, Philadelphia, Cleveland and San Antonio throughout the Knicks’ championship run, including Saturday’s clincher.
Lee was already thinking about what’s next for the Knicks after they won, telling ABC, “back to back!”
