Spike Lee is maybe hoping to give the Knicks an extra blessing on Monday night.
The “Do the Right Thing” director sported a custom Pope Leo XIV Knicks jersey for Game 3 of the NBA Finals after receiving it at the Vatican last year.
Pope Leo is a Villanova alum, like Knicks stars Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart.
Lee, on his Instagram account earlier on Monday, revealed he’d wear the autographed blue jersey he got signed during a visit with the pontiff in November. He’s worn the jersey at least one other time this postseason, donning it for Game 2 in the first round against the Hawks.
The Knicks superfan is a fixture along celebrity row throughout the season, and his presence has been felt at Madison Square Garden — and on the road — throughout the run to the NBA Finals, including making a trip to San Antonio for New York’s thrilling come-from-behind win in Game 1.
Pope Leo XIV BACKGRIDLee also sat down with the “Inside the NBA” pregame show on ESPN, which showed his looks throughout the years during prior Knicks seasons.
When Lee was asked about other celebrities who have been on this Knicks ride, he mentioned his own bona fides as a longtime fan and not a bandwagoner.
“I got my season tickets the morning after Dave DeBusschere pulled out the — I don’t know if it was hold or cold envelope, I don’t know,” Lee said of the famous 1985 draft lottery in which the Knicks got the top pick, using it to choose Patrick Ewing. “And I jumped on the subway, and I slept on line.
“So I’ve had season tickets since Patrick Ewing’s rookie year. But I didn’t start courtside.”
Spike Lee with his Pope Leo jersey during Game 2 of the first round against the Hawks. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostKnicks Merch Shop
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Lee added that he could have sold his seats for Game 3 for “half a million” dollars.
Lee, after the Knicks swept away the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals, said he didn’t care who New York played in the NBA Finals. He believes this is a Knicks team of destiny.
“I don’t care about San Antonio. OKC. We’re going to win. May 8, 1970 [the first Knicks championship]. I was at the Willis Reed game. Thirteen years old,” Lee said at the end of May. “So going to keep it going. This is a team of destiny, heart, drive. … It reminds me of Willis, Dave DeBusschere, Bill Bradley, Dick Barnett, Cazzie Russell. I’m going back. I’m old, though.”
