The Cleveland Cavaliers weren’t going to allow New York’s celebrity row to commandeer their Rocket Arena courtside seats in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Not Fat Joe, and not even Spike Lee.
The rapper, whose real name is Joseph Cartagena, went on ESPN’s “NBA Today” in Cleveland before the game and said the organization revoked his ticket once it found out the purchaser was a known Knicks supporter.
“We had bought some courtside tickets to the game, and once they found out it was superfan Fat Joe, they were like, I can’t sit courtside. New York Knicks fans can’t sit courtside,” he said. “They took the tickets away courtside after we purchased it, so shame on you all.”
Spike Lee was also seen at the game in the second row, in what appeared to be a deliberate strategy from Cleveland to reserve the premier seats exclusively for Cavaliers fans. The organization did not immediately respond to an email request for comment from The Athletic.
Other Knicks fans on Twitter also lamented the Cavaliers’ efforts to limit the purchasing power of traveling Knicks fans. Jason Calacanis, a New York-based entrepreneur, posted on Twitter that Cleveland fans were forced to sign documentation stating they would not resell their courtside tickets to Knicks fans or face stern repercussions.
“(Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert) has successfully blocked me from buying courtside seats,” Calacanis wrote. “Backstory: Dan forced fans to sign a DocuSign that they wouldn’t resell their courtside tickets, or they would face a lifetime ban from future Cavaliers games. I was told firsthand from ticket holders who wanted to sell them.”
Well, I will be in the building for the 🧹 tonight… but @cavsdan has successfully blocked me from buying court side seats
Backstory: Dan forced fans to sign a Docusign that they wouldn’t resell their court side tickets or the would face a lifetime ban from @cavs games (I was…
— @jason (@Jason) May 25, 2026
Even still, the New York cheering contingent found its way to Rocket Arena in droves to watch the Knicks attempt to sweep the Cavaliers and make the franchise’s first NBA Finals appearance since 1999. Other celebrity Knicks superfans, Ben Stiller and Timothée Chalamet, were also on hand to watch New York take its shot at history.
There were several viral videos circulating of former Knicks point guard Stephon Marbury hyping up a plane full of New York faithful headed to Cleveland.
“After the game,” Marbury said over the plane’s PA system, “After the game, not before the game, we go crazy!”
Fans erupted in excitement as Marbury started a “Go New York Go!” chant on the plane.
Stephon Marbury fired up the Knicks fans on their flight to Cleveland 🔥 pic.twitter.com/tFVGHI8saF
— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) May 25, 2026
The Knicks, who crushed Cleveland 130-93 in Game 4 to earn the sweep, have made an emphasis of closing out series in dominant fashion this playoff run. The Knicks averaged 138 points per game and a 39.3-point average margin of victory in their three series-clinching wins this postseason, including victories against the Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers.
Their celebrity row is eager for every chance to watch more history in person.
They will have to wait until the series returns to New York to get back courtside, though.
