Not every celebrity sitting in “Celebrity Row” gets the same treatment from Knicks playmaker Jalen Brunson.
This insight comes from Ben Stiller, who appeared on the “Roommates Show” podcast hosted by Brunson and Josh Hart. He noted that Mariska Hargitay from “Law & Order: SVU” seems to be the envy of other Knicks fans due to how she interacts with Brunson during games.
“The affection Mariska Hargitay receives from you after the game is what every Knicks celebrity fan dreams of. She gets a hug, even after a loss,” Stiller remarked.
Brunson, 28, mentioned how he grew up watching “Law and Order: SVU” and was thrilled to have Hargitay at a game on April 11.
“Dad often watched the show with me. The theme song is a regular at home,” Brunson shared. “I realize I’ve been watching the show my whole life, and the more I see it, the more it resonates with me.”
He described feeling starstruck when he first met Hargitay, who has portrayed Olivia Benson since 1999.
“I’ve always loved the show, and meeting her was unreal,” Brunson added, recognizing his excitement.
Brunson also noted it was interesting to see how often he spots Stiller compared to Hargitay, who has made fewer appearances at games this season.
“I expect to see Stiller regularly, but this was only her first or second game of the year, so I was happy to get a chance to say hello,” he said.
Stiller has been a familiar face at Madison Square Garden during the season, especially now as the Knicks recently defeated the Pistons in the playoff first round.
Interestingly, Stiller’s appearance on the podcast coincided with the Knicks’ impressive comeback victory over the Celtics, where they won 108-105 in Game 1 of the second round, despite an earlier 20-point deficit.
Brunson had to deal with Hart’s jokes during the game but still managed to score 29 points, along with four rebounds and five assists.
Hart teased Brunson about not hugging his wife after losses, to which Brunson humorously defended himself, saying, “That’s a lie,” followed by a lighthearted, “Damn, man.”
Game 2 of the series is set for 7 PM on Wednesday, before the teams head to New York for Game 3 on Saturday.
