It has been more than a week since the Indiana Pacers ended the New York Knicks’ season in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Despite the time that has passed, Ben Stiller still seems to be feeling the disappointment of his favorite team falling short. The Knicks had been aiming for their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.
On Sunday, the actor and comedian served as a presenter at the Tony Awards. He handed out the trophy for “Best Play.” Before doing so, Stiller made a joke about spending his evening at Radio City Music Hall instead of watching the NBA Finals.
“Theatre is my passion,” said Stiller, 59, as he began his presentation. “It’s the place where I feel most at home. It has been a constant sanctuary for me, especially since last week, when the Knicks lost the Eastern Conference Finals.”
The audience laughed at this. Stiller then added with a straight face, “I was told there is a big overlap between theatre lovers and sports fans.”
While he may not be as famous a Knicks fan as Spike Lee, Stiller has become one of the team’s most well-known supporters in recent years. The New York native was often seen sitting courtside during the playoffs. He usually sat next to actor Timothée Chalamet. The Knicks had a surprising postseason run, beating the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals before losing to the Pacers in six games.
Stiller even had a brief clash with Pat McAfee, who made fun of visiting celebrities during the Pacers’ Game 4 win. He also joked about muting Reggie Miller, the Pacers legend and TNT announcer, during Game 6. However, Stiller’s main frustration seemed to be with the team’s loss rather than the game commentary.
