Ben Stiller Takes Knicks HC Mike Brown up on Wife's Request

The New York Knicks are playing basketball at a historic level.

If that feels hyperbolic, you don’t have to take my word for it. The NBA explained it all here.

The CliffsNotes version is this: The Knicks are on an 11-game winning streak, including two straight sweeps of the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers. They demolished the Cavaliers by 37 points in Game 4 to win the Eastern Conference Finals on Monday. Jalen Brunson was named Eastern Conference Finals MVP, and now, the Knicks are in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.

Legendary actor and comedic force Ben Stiller has been front row for all of it, save for one absence due to the Met Gala, and he would do anything for Knicks head coach Mike Brown, including posing for a photo with Brown’s wife, Ro.

On Friday, Brown met with the media and was asked whether he’s developed a bond with all the celebrity Knicks fans.

“I’ve actually gotten to know Fat Joe a little bit,” Brown said. “He used to kill me, man, about my shoes. He tried to tell me I need to get some Nikes because they got more cushion and all this stuff. He took a picture with my stepson, and my stepson was fired up. I’ve always been a fan of his. He’s probably the only one that I’ve really gotten to know. I talked to Spike [Lee] a couple of times. I really haven’t talked to anybody else.”

Then he dropped a gem.

“She’s gonna kill me, but my wife, Ro, Ben Stiller was over there,” Brown said of the Eastern Conference Finals trophy celebration. “I don’t think I’ve ever met Ben, but he was over there, and she was like, ‘[Gasp] Ben’s over there!’ I was like, ‘Go get a picture. I’m sure he’ll take a picture with you.’ [She said], ‘No! I can’t do it!'”

Stiller saw the clip and responded to it on X, writing, “I am available for any picture any time with any member of Mike Brown's immediate or extended family or friends. This man has taken us to the Finals. In his first year here [13 praise hands emojis].”

The Knicks fired head coach Tom Thibodeau after losing the Eastern Conference Finals to the Indiana Pacers last May. Brown, a former NBA Coach of the Year with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Sacramento Kings, was hired in his place last July.

“Mike has coached on the biggest stages in our sport and brings championship pedigree to our organization,” Knicks president Leon Rose said at the time. “His experience leading the bench during the NBA Finals, winning four titles as an assistant coach, and his ability to grow and develop players will all help us as we aim to bring a championship to New York for our fans.”

So far, so good.

The Knicks will face either the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder or the Victor Wembanyama-led San Antonio Spurs in the Finals. The Thunder and Spurs will play Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals on Saturday, and Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals is slated for Wednesday, June 3. The Knicks are vying to win their first championship since 1973. Ben Stiller was seven.

2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 3:12 PM.