The NBA Finals Get a Dose of Hollywood Glamour

Sydney Sweeney made headlines when she attended Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs wearing a white Jalen Brunson No. 11 jersey.

The actress and her boyfriend Scooter Braun sat courtside at Madison Square Garden for the Knicks' come-from-behind win in Game 4. This time around, she received a live, on-air reaction from Charles Barkley on TNT during Game 5.

The verdict from online audiences was immediate and divided.

Some fans of the Knicks saw Sweeney as a good-luck charm for the team, while others questioned her true allegiance to the team, given her Washington state roots.

Skeptics took to social media to voice their opinions: "YOU ARE FROM F—— WASHINGTON AND HAVEN'T BEEN TO A BASKETBALL GAME IN YOUR LIFE IM SO SURE YOU'RE A FAN."

Those watching the game at other bars reacted differently, with one person claiming that "People at the bar booed in unison when she came on."

Some fans couldn't help but make light of the situation: "Why is she wearing it backward, though?"