NBA Finals Game 5: Which celebrities could show up if Knicks close out Spurs in San Antonio?

The 2026 NBA Finals has turned into a traveling celebrity spectacle, and Game 5 in San Antonio is shaping up to be the most unpredictable stop yet.

After the New York Knicks pulled off a dramatic 107–106 comeback in Game 4 at Madison Square Garden to take a 3–1 series lead, attention has now shifted south to the Frost Bank Center, where the Spurs will try to keep their season alive in front of a crowd that suddenly may not feel like home-court advantage at all.

Game 4 in New York drew one of the most stacked celebrity rows of the postseason. Taylor Swift, Spike Lee, Ben Stiller, Timothée Chalamet, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, Mariska Hargitay, and Michael J. Fox were among the long list of stars courtside as OG Anunoby’s late game-winner sealed a Knicks victory.

But if Game 4 was Hollywood in Manhattan, Game 5 in San Antonio is likely to feel more like a split-screen event: part Knicks traveling circus, part Spurs heritage night, and part league-wide pilgrimage for a potential elimination game.

Why Game 5 changes the celebrity calculus

Historically, NBA Finals closeout games attract a different type of crowd than early-series matchups. Once a team is on the brink, either of elimination or a championship, the dynamics change. It’s not just about local fandom anymore. It becomes about moment hunting.

That’s when you tend to see celebrities who don’t usually attend early-round games suddenly appear, league-adjacent figures (broadcast talent, retired players, execs) showing up in greater numbers, and and traveling super-fans following teams across the country for potential history.

Game 5 fits that exact profile. The Knicks are one win away from their first title since 1973, and their most visible supporters have already shown a willingness to travel. Spike Lee, for example, has attended every Finals game so far, including in San Antonio earlier in the series, and is expected to continue following the team on the road.

On the Spurs side, Game 5 represents survival. That tends to bring out franchise royalty and Texas-based icons who don’t always appear earlier in a series.

Knicks fans on the move: the “traveling front row” effect

Already in this series, we have seen that Knicks celebrities are willing to follow the team on the road. Spike Lee has been courtside throughout the Finals run, including in San Antonio. Ben Stiller and Timothée Chalamet have both appeared multiple times across home and away games. And New York’s broader celebrity ecosystem of comedians, actors, musicians, has rotated in and out depending on location and schedule.

Game 5 being potentially series-defining only amplifies that. If the Knicks win, they clinch a championship in Texas. If the Spurs extend it, the series returns to New York. Either way, this is exactly the type of game that tends to pull in last-minute arrivals from Los Angeles, New York, and even Europe-based entertainers who want to be in the building for a defining sports moment.

What San Antonio brings to the table

Unlike New York’s celebrity-heavy courtside rotation, San Antonio games in this series have leaned more toward basketball royalty and Texas-rooted presence. Across Games 1 and 2, Spurs legends and NBA figures have been part of the building’s backdrop, alongside visiting Knicks celebrities who made the trip early in the series.

That typically sets the stage for Game 5 to expand that list rather than shrink it, especially with elimination pressure now in play. Expect more former players, broadcast personalities tied to NBA coverage, and regional entertainment figures who rarely travel for regular-season games but show up for Finals turning points.

Game 5 tips off this Saturday, June 13 at 8:30 p.m. ET from Frost Bank Center.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.