How the Knicks' Most Famous Fans Reacted to First NBA Finals Berth Since 1999
Knicks fans have been waiting for this moment for a long, long time.
As the final buzzer sounded on New York's 130–93 victory over the Cavaliers in Game 4 to finish off an Eastern Conference finals sweep on Monday night at Rocket Arena, a drought ended. The Knicks are back in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.
It's been quite the (mostly miserable) ride for New York since Latrell Sprewell and that 1998-99 Knicks team fell to the Spurs in five games in the NBA Finals. The Knicks won one playoff series from 2001 to '12. Carmelo Anthony couldn't get the Knicks out of the second round, and then he couldn't get them into the postseason at all. The Knicks won 17 games in 2014-15 and again in 2018-19. Last year, New York led the Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals by nine points with under one minute to play and found a way to lose.
Over and over again, the Knicks fell short. But this year is different. Much different. The Knicks have won 11 straight games-the fourth-longest winning streak in NBA playoff history-and now wait to learn their opponent in the upcoming Finals.
The New York City streets were rowdy Monday night as fans partied like it was 1999. Inside Rocket Arena in Cleveland and all across the world, the Knicks' long list of celebrity fans also soaked in the moment:
Timothée Chalamet
Chalamet, who was bumped to the second row from his normal courtside seat in Game 4, celebrated on the floor with Knicks players and coaches.
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This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 1:08 AM.