New York Knicks superfan Spike Lee won’t be at his usual courtside seat for the rest of the season as he and the team engage in a war of words over what entrance he can use.
Appearing on ESPN’s First Take on Tuesday morning, Lee said he’s taking a hiatus from Madison Square Garden.
“I’m coming back next year, but I’m done for the season,” the award-winning screenwriter and director said. “I’m done.”
Lee’s comments come a day after a video circulated online showing Lee yelling at Garden security outside an MSG elevator, leading some to say he was thrown out of the arena. But a Knicks spokesman said that was untrue and that it was simply an issue of Lee using the wrong entrance.
Lee and Knicks owner James Dolan could be seen shaking hands and smiling at halftime. Lee was in his sideline seat in the second half and stayed through the final buzzer as the Knicks defeated the Rockets 125-123.
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Spike Lee joins First Take to elaborate on the incident he had at Madison Square Garden Monday night.
Lee classified the Knicks’ version of events as “spin.” Lee said that he had been coming in the same entrance to Garden for the 28 years he has had season tickets. Lee specifically said he took issue with the Knicks’ saying that he and Dolan were socializing at halftime.
“I wasn’t shaking his hand,” Lee said. “In fact, when he came over, I didn’t get up right away.”
Lee went on to say, “I’m being harassed by James Dolan. I don’t know why.”
The 62-year-old Academy Award winner said that despite his moratorium on MSG this season, he’ll be back for the 2020-21 campaign. His comments came before the Knicks posted a statement on social media calling out Lee. The post included pictures of the entrance and Lee and Dolan shaking hands.
New York Knicks Statement on Spike Lee pic.twitter.com/19JcvhFKO7
— NY_KnicksPR (@NY_KnicksPR) March 3, 2020
“The idea that Spike Lee is a victim because we have repeatedly asked him to not use our employee entrance and instead use a dedicated VIP entrance — which is used by every other celebrity who enters The Garden — is laughable,” the statement read. “It’s disappointing that Spike would create this false controversy to perpetuate drama. He is welcome to come to The Garden anytime via the VIP or general entrance; just not through our employee entrance, which is what he and Jim agreed to last night when they shook hands.”
Longtime Knicks nemesis Reggie Miller even weighed in, suggesting Lee should become a Pacers fan.
https://t.co/Vl3sX408ND OOOOHHHHH have the MIGHTY have fallen.. This wouldn’t happen at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, maybe finally time to switch your allegiance Spike…
— Reggie Miller (@ReggieMillerTNT) March 3, 2020
ESPN’s Malika Andrews contributed to this report.