“It's much better than the Oscars”: this is how Timothée Chalamet celebrated the Knicks' title
Chalamet has been nominated for the Oscars three times. The last one for her role in the film “Marty Supreme”
In a statement that is going around the world of culture and sports, actor Timothée Chalamet, nominated three times for the Oscar Award, said that he would prefer a New York Knicks championship “a thousand times” over an Oscar ceremony.
The interpreter, a regular attendee of the NBA finals at Madison Square Garden, offered these statements to SportsCenter moments after the Knicks were crowned champions. The victory was achieved on Saturday night at the Frost Bank Center, where New York defeated the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the final series.
"This is so much better than the Oscars! Come on, baby! The Knicks are champions, baby!" Chalamet exclaimed from the edge of the court.
The New York actor's celebration was not limited to the stands. Chalamet entered the locker room to celebrate with his hometown team. In a video that has gone viral, he is seen enjoying the traditional champagne shower.
When a voice off camera offered him protective glasses, the artist humorously rejected the gesture: "I don't deserve them. I'm not an athlete. Normally, I use a stunt double for that."
A wait of 53 years
The actor's preference takes on symbolic meaning when considering the wait time in both his career and the sports franchise. Chalamet has been nominated for an Oscar three times in the best actor category: the first for “Call Me by Your Name” (2018), the second for “A Complete Unknown” (2025) and the third for “Marty Supreme” (2026). Over eight years, the award has eluded him.
In contrast, the New York Knicks broke a 53-year title drought. Their last championship dated back to 1973, when they defeated the Los Angeles Lakers with an identical score of 4-1.
Chalamet was not the only public figure who witnessed the Knicks' feat live at Madison Square Garden. Among the stars occupying courtside seats were filmmakers and comedians such as Spike Lee, Larry David, Adam Sandler, Jerry Seinfeld, Ben Stiller, Chris Rock and Tracy Morgan, as well as actress Mariska Hargitay and singer Taylor Swift.
A historical fact added greater relevance to the event: President Donald Trump attended the third game of the series at the Garden, which made him the first sitting president in history to attend the NBA Finals.