Timothée Chalamet Says He’d Rather See the Knicks Win a Championship Than Win an Oscar
Timothée Chalamet said he would “way rather” see the New York Knicks win an NBA championship than win an Oscar, speaking courtside after the team’s title-clinching victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night at the Frost Bank Center. Chalamet, who has been a familiar face at Knicks games throughout the Finals, celebrated the moment as New York secured the series 4-1 and captured its first championship since 1973.
In remarks to SportsCenter, the actor joked that the Knicks’ triumph meant more to him than Hollywood recognition. “Way rather this than the Oscars! Come on, baby!” he said, adding, “Knicks are champions, baby!” The comments came just moments after the final buzzer and reflected the excitement surrounding one of New York’s most high-profile celebrity fans.
Chalamet continued the celebration by heading into the locker room with the team. In a video from the postgame scene, someone off camera offered him goggles to protect his eyes from champagne spraying through the room. Chalamet declined with humor, saying, “I don’t deserve them. I’m not an athlete. Usually, I have a stunt double do that.”
The actor’s comments carry added weight because he has been nominated three times at the Oscars, all in the best actor category. His nominations came for “Call Me by Your Name” in 2018, “A Complete Unknown” in 2025 and “Marty Supreme” in 2026. Despite that awards success, Chalamet has not yet won an Oscar, while the Knicks endured a much longer wait for another title, going 53 years between championships. Their previous NBA crown came in 1973, also in a 4-1 series win, against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Chalamet was far from the only celebrity following the Knicks’ playoff run from courtside. Madison Square Garden drew a long list of famous fans, including Spike Lee, Larry David, Adam Sandler, Jerry Seinfeld, Mariska Hargitay, Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Tracy Morgan and Taylor Swift. The Finals also included a notable political appearance, as President Donald Trump attended Game 3 at Madison Square Garden, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to ever watch an NBA Finals game in person.
That Game 3 ended up being the only loss of the series for New York, but it did little to slow the team’s championship march. With the title secured, the Knicks ended decades of frustration and delivered a long-awaited moment for fans in New York, including one of the city’s most visible celebrity supporters. Chalamet’s courtside enthusiasm and locker-room celebration captured the sense of relief, joy and pride that surrounded the team’s historic run.
