DraftKings Posts Hypothetical Celebrity Row Odds for NBA Finals at MSG

What are the odds that President Donald Trump will sit courtside at an NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden? Wonder no more.

DraftKings' director of sports operations Johnny Avello has listed hypothetical odds on which celebrities will be spotted on celebrity row when the New York Knicks host the San Antonio Spurs during the NBA Finals.

Key Takeaways

• Mainstays Spike Lee, Ben Stiller, and Timothee Chalamet own the shortest odds.
  
  
• Zohran Mamdani (+5,000) and Taylor Swift (+6,000) are among the long shots.
  
  
• Odds are not available for betting and only for entertainment purposes.

The list of celebrity names goes 60 deep and includes noted Knicks fans Spike Lee, Ben Stiller, and Timothee Chalamet (-25,000), media personalities Mike Francesa (+400) and Howard Stern (+1,000), and the aforementioned President.

Trump has said he plans to attend a Finals game at MSG.

"I think I'll be going to one of the games," the President said in May. "I was invited by numerous people, and (owner James Dolan), and I think I'll be going."

President Trump says he thinks he'll go see the New York Knicks play at Madison Square Garden for one of their NBA Finals games after getting an invitation from team owner Jim Dolan.

"What a team..." Trump said. "They've really suffered for years." pic.twitter.com/TEr5DRaLT3

— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 27, 2026

But will he sit courtside? DraftKings lists the odds of that happening at -125, a near coin flip.

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All eyes on New York City

The Knicks are returning to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 and haven't won a championship since 1973.

With the Knicks' championship drought and New York's place as the largest media market in America, all eyes will be on their series against sophomore star Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs.

Celebrity row looked a little different the last time the Knicks were in the Finals.

Celebrity row at Game 4 of the 1999 NBA Finals at the Garden. Not much has changed 💙🧡

[via @velodus] pic.twitter.com/Lwesm0Y4zV

— Knicks Fan TV 🏀🎥📺🏁 (@KnicksFanTv) May 26, 2026

Sure shots and long shots

The sure bets include director and diehard Knicks fan Spike Lee, comedian and New York native Tracy Morgan, Stiller, and Chalamet at -25,000 odds. Chalamet's girlfriend, Kylie Jenner, comes in a shade below at -20,000. 

Knicks legends Walt Frazier (-20,000), Patrick Ewing (-20,000), Larry Johnson (-15,000), and John Starks (-12,500) follow them. 

The long shots include musician and New Jersey native Bruce Springsteen (+40,000), fashion staples Emily Ratajkowski (+50,000) and Calvin Klein (+50,000), and former Knicks great Charles Oakley (+100,000). Oakley infamously was arrested and banned from MSG by Dolan. He did attend Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals in Cleveland to watch the Knicks sweep the Cavaliers.

Springsteen may not be favored on the oddsboard, but he has an ally in Knicks president of basketball operations Leon Rose.

Because Cleveland made the ECF Knicks president Leon Rose—who’s reportedly been to over 100 Bruce Springsteen concerts—got to catch another one in Cleveland tonight

Wait for it… pic.twitter.com/4cYbvCMd1m

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 23, 2026

The odds are not available for wagering on DraftKings Sportsbook and are only for entertainment purposes.

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