Not the entire stars on “Celebrity Row” obtain the identical reception from a sure Knicks playmaker.
That’s in keeping with Knicks superfan Ben Stiller, who stated Monday on Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart’s “Roommates Show” podcast that longtime “Law & Order: SVU” star Mariska Hargitay “is the envy of every other Knicks fan” due to her game-day interactions with the group captain.
“The love that Mariska Hargitay gets from you postgame is the envy of every other Knicks fan, Knicks celebrity fan. She gets a hug after a loss,” Stiller stated.
Brunson, 28, then detailed how he grew up watching “Law & Order: SVU” and its beloved star, whom he embraced courtside at Madison Sq. Backyard on April 11.
“I remember my dad always watching the show and it was like, you just hear the iconic [theme song] ‘don-don’ all the time in the house,” Brunson stated, “… And so, always found myself watching the show and the older I got, the more I watched, the more I see now I’m like, ‘I’ve seen that episode,’ I’ve seen so many different episodes.”
Brunson recalled feeling star-struck when he first met Hargitay, who has appeared on “Law & Order” iterations since 1999 and performs Olivia Benson.
“I’ve always loved the show, and I’ve never been like super, super starstruck. I saw her and I was like, ‘Oh, s–t,’ and then, the first time we met, it was awesome, we talked and everything,” he stated.
Brunson cited his high quality time with Hargitay, 61, over the actress’s uncommon Backyard appearances in comparison with Stiller’s.
“I expect to see him there all the time, but this is her first or second game this year, so I’m not going to see her for a long time, so I’m just going to say hi and go,” Brunson stated.
Stiller has been a staple at MSG all through the season and the primary spherical of the playoffs, which noticed the Knicks knock off the Pistons in six video games.
His episode of the “Roommates Show” dropped on the identical day the Knicks rallied from a 20-point deficit to take Recreation 1 of their second-round sequence in opposition to the Celtics in Boston, 108-105.
Earlier than Brunson scored 29 factors, 4 rebounds and 5 assists, he needed to overcome some mild teasing by Hart over the Hargitay of all of it.
“I’ve seen you not hug your wife after some losses,” Hart stated, to which Brunson replied, “That’s a lie,” with a glare.
“Damn, man,” Brunson added with a smile.
Recreation 2 ideas off Wednesday at 7 p.m. earlier than the sequence shifts to New York for Recreation 3 on Saturday.
