New York Knicks superfan Spike Lee lands Hall of Fame invite

The New York Knicks’ latest inductee into the Naismth Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has yet to play a minute, but has probably spent more minutes on the sidelines at Madison Square Garden than anyone else.

Celebrity Knicks superfan Spike Lee is headed to Springfield as the Hall of Fame announced he and three others will be inducted into the James F. Goldstein SuperFan Gallery on Oct. 13. He is joined by actors Billy Crystal and Jack Nicholson (fans of the Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers respectively), as well as Philadelphia-based real estate mogul Alan Horwitz.

Lee is expected to be inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside Knicks legend Dick Barnett, who is part of a class led by modern legends Chauncey Billups and Vince Carter. The class of 13, as well as Lee and his fellow superfans, will be honored the weekend of October 12-13.

“I got an unexpected call out of nowhere,” Lee said of the honor, according to veteran NBA writer Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson. “I sincerely thank the Basketball Hall of Fame for this completely unexpected blessing on my love of basketball and my crazy love of the NEW YORK KNICKERBOCKERS!”

Lee, 67, is one of the most recognizable celebrities in the NBA, having been stationed in the celebrity seats at Madison Square Garden for decades.

The acclaimed film director is known for wildly celebrating the Knicks’ victories and angering opposing players. From a basketball perspective, Lee is perhaps best known for his long-running feud with Knicks nemesis Reggie Miller, which served in part as the basis for the ESPN Films documentary “Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. the New York Knicks” in his “30 for 30” film series “.

With the Knicks in the final stages of offseason preparation, Lee recently took his talents to Brooklyn, where he supported the New York Liberty’s ongoing WNBA playoffs, just a few blocks from where he shoots some of his films like “Do the Right Thing” shot.

Be sure to bookmark All Knicks for the latest news, exclusive interviews, movie breakdowns, and more!