Jalen Brunson Shares Starstruck Moment Meeting Ben Stiller for the First Time

The Fanatics Fest in New York brought together a remarkable lineup of celebrities, delighting fans with appearances by beloved New York Knicks stars and notable figures from the entertainment world. Jalen Brunson, alongside Knicks superfan Ben Stiller, led a panel that touched on a wide array of topics.

Joining Brunson and Stiller were Knicks legend and Hall of Fame point guard Walt “Clyde” Frazier, shooting guard Josh Hart, and ardent Knicks supporter and Academy Award-winning director Spike Lee.

At the event, Jalen Brunson shared his memorable first encounter with Ben Stiller. Reflecting on their initial meeting, Brunson recalled, “My first interaction was at a Knicks game and he was talking about just how much of a Knicks fan he was. And I was just like, in awe. That was it,” he revealed via PEOPLE.

Since his acquisition by the Knicks in 2022, Brunson has been named the 36th captain in the franchise’s history, a role last held by Lance Thomas in the 2018-19 season. Brunson’s respect for Stiller’s long-standing fervor for the Knicks is mutual.

Ben Stiller, a lifelong Knicks fan since the early 1970s, witnessed the team’s championship glory and has remained a loyal supporter ever since. The New York native, when not busy with his career in film and television, often live-tweets Knicks games or cheers them on from courtside seats.

Stiller’s dedication to the Knicks was notably evident during a heart-wrenching 113-112 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. New York fans, including Stiller, were frustrated by the absence of a foul call on Luguentz Dort during Jalen Brunson’s late-game basket that had momentarily put New York ahead.

The NBA’s two-minute report later confirmed that the non-call was correct, prompting a sharp response from Stiller, who actively engages with fans on X (formerly Twitter) during Knicks games. “This is an April Fools right?” Stiller posted in frustration.

Not long after Brunson’s contested basket, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder sank a game-winning shot with just over a second left, robbing the Knicks of a potential overtime opportunity.

Despite such setbacks, optimism surrounding the Knicks has surged. Under Brunson’s leadership, a Villanova alum, the team has managed to advance to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs in both of his two seasons since arriving from the Dallas Mavericks.

For Knicks fans, a sense of genuine hope for a championship run has returned—a feeling not seen since the 1990s. Brunson’s decision to join the Knicks on a $110 million contract has been instrumental in fostering this optimism. The synergy among the team’s Villanova-rooted core only adds to the excitement.

Brunson’s performance last season was stellar, as he averaged 28.7 points per game, secured his first All-Star selection, and finished fifth in the NBA MVP voting, according to the league’s statistics.