Ben Stiller left Charles Barkley stunned during Wednesday's 'Inside the NBA' broadcast when he admitted that his front-row New York Knicks tickets are complimentary, not season tickets.
The Awkward Exchange
During an interview ahead of the Knicks' dramatic Game 4 NBA Finals victory over the San Antonio Spurs, Barkley praised Stiller for his loyalty to the team. 'You're not a fair-weather fan,' Barkley said, contrasting the actor with 'freeloaders' who only show up when the Knicks are winning.
Barkley then asked Stiller, 'How long have you actually been a season-ticket holder?' Stiller replied, 'I don't have a season ticket. I just get the tickets. The celebrities... they give us the tickets.'
'Man, stop lying,' Barkley shot back, visibly surprised.
Stiller continued, 'I don't think I can afford the Knicks season ticket front row. Um, no, I'm lucky. I think it's because I've been coming for so long that they feel I'm a loyal fan.'
Celebrity Comps Are Common
While some tabloids characterized Stiller's remarks as 'entitled' and 'clueless,' it is well known that Madison Square Garden provides complimentary tickets to many celebrities, often offering the best seats in the house. For context, the lowest price for a courtside ticket for Game 4 was reportedly around $42,000.
Stiller also revealed that he is working on a documentary about the Knicks, which he somewhat confirmed during the interview. 'There's a project in the works, but look, I'd be doing it anyway,' he said. 'To be able to have that point of view, it's fun to be able to share it with people.'
A Lifelong Fan
Stiller, who sat next to Taylor Swift and her entourage during the Knicks' come-from-behind victory, did not shy away from acknowledging his good fortune. He recalled attending Knicks games as an 8-year-old with his father, 'Seinfeld' legend Jerry Stiller. 'Our family's been coming forever, so I'm lucky enough to get that,' he added.
