Ben Stiller jokes about Knicks’ playoff exit during Tony Awards

It’s been more than a week since the Indiana Pacers officially ended the New York Knicks’ season in the Eastern Conference Finals.

All indications, however, are that Ben Stiller is still getting over his favorite team falling short of what would have been its first appearance in the NBA Finals since 1999.

On Sunday, the Zoolander star served as a presenter at the Tony Awards, where he handed out the trophy in the “Best Play” category. But before doing so, Stiller seemingly lamented the fact that he was spending his Sunday night at Radio City Music Hall as opposed to in Oklahoma City, where the Thunder were simultaneously hosting the Pacers in Game 2 of the 2025 NBA Finals.

“I’m so honored to be here because theatre is my passion. The place where I feel most at home,” the 59-year-old Stiller said to open up his presentation. “The stage has been a constant sanctuary for me, dating all the way back to last week when the Knicks lost the Eastern Conference Finals.”

As the crowd erupted in laughter, the There’s Something About Mary star deadpanned: “I was told there’s a huge crossover between theatre lovers and sports fans.”

While he may not quite be Spike Lee, Stiller has emerged in recent years as one of the Knicks’ most famous fans. The New York native could be spotted sitting courtside — typically next to fellow movie star Timothée Chalamet — throughout the team’s postseason run, which saw the Knicks upset the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals before falling to the Pacers in six games.

Stiller even briefly feuded with Pat McAfee, who cut an in-house promo on the visiting celebrities during the Pacers’ Game 4 victory. He also trolled Reggie Miller by expressing appreciation for having the ability to mute the Pacers legend during TNT’s broadcast of Game 6, although it appears that Stiller had a bigger issue with the outcome than the announcers who were calling the game itself.