Ben Stiller Calls Mariska Hargitay the Queen of Knicks Fandom
In the ever-growing list of famous New York Knicks fans, Ben Stiller and Mariska Hargitay are both front-row regulars—but according to Stiller, only one truly reigns supreme.
Appearing on the Roommates Show podcast hosted by Knicks stars Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, Stiller didn’t hold back when he jokingly declared that Mariska Hargitay is the “envy” of every Knicks celebrity fan. Why? It’s not the courtside seats—it’s the personal postgame hugs from Brunson himself.
“I know Mariska a lot,” Stiller shared. “The love that Mariska Hargitay gets from you postgame is the envy of every other Knicks celebrity fan. She gets a hug after a loss!”
The room erupted in laughter, but Brunson was quick to agree. He explained that he’s been a lifelong Law & Order: SVU fan thanks to his dad’s love for the show, which was always blasting loudly through their home. The iconic “don-don” sound became part of his childhood soundtrack.
Brunson even called SVU his “pregame show” back in his Dallas Mavericks days, watching episodes before his naps. “The older I got, the more I watched,” he added. “I’ve seen so many episodes.”
When Brunson finally met Hargitay, he admitted he was starstruck. “I saw her and I was like, ‘Oh s—.’”
Meanwhile, Stiller’s own first encounter with Brunson happened courtside at a Knicks game. “He was talking about how much of a Knicks fan he was,” Brunson recalled. “I was in awe.”
From hugs to heartwarming nostalgia, this story proves that being a Mariska Hargitay Knicks fan means more than just loving basketball—it means being part of a cultural crossover where TV icons and NBA stars share genuine mutual respect.
