The New York Knicks just reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. And somehow, Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner became one of the biggest side stories of the entire playoff run.
From courtside seats at Madison Square Garden to getting booed in Cleveland, the couple followed the Knicks through every round, and the internet watched every single moment of it.
Here is a full breakdown of what happened, game by game.
Who is Timothée Chalamet and Why is He at Every Knicks Game?
Timothée Chalamet is a French-American actor best known for Dune, Call Me By Your Name, and his 2026 awards-season hit Marty Supreme, a Josh Safdie film in which he plays an obsessive table tennis player in 1950s New York City. He won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy for the role and was nominated for an Oscar.
He is also, genuinely, a massive Knicks fan. Not a celebrity-using-a-team-for-optics fan. A show-up-to-every-playoff-game, lose-his-mind-in-the-stands fan. He was spotted at Madison Square Garden minutes before tipoff for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, posting an Instagram Story from a plane with a Statue of Liberty emoji and “OTW,” on the way, just hours before the game.
Who is Kylie Jenner and How Long Have She and Chalamet Been Together?
Kylie Jenner is an entrepreneur, founder of Kylie Cosmetics, and one of the most-followed people on social media globally. She is the youngest of the Kardashian-Jenner family and has been in the public eye since she was a teenager.
Chalamet and Jenner have been dating for approximately three years. At the 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards in January, Chalamet publicly acknowledged her, saying: “I would like to say thank you to my partner of three years. Thank you for our foundation. I love you. I couldn’t do this without you.”
They kept the relationship private for a long time. After winning his Golden Globe on January 11, 2026, Chalamet soft-launched the relationship on Instagram with a photo dump that included a subtle cameo, a hand with a light pink manicure, widely identified as Jenner’s, holding the top of his trophy.
What Happened at Knicks-Cavs Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals?
For Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Chalamet was at MSG. Jenner was not with him. The Knicks won in an improbable comeback.
What Did Kylie Jenner Do During Game 2 While Chalamet Was at MSG?
While Chalamet was courtside at Madison Square Garden for Game 2, Jenner watched from home with chips, a bottle of wine, and caviar. She posted an Instagram Story with the caption “GAME NIGHT!” showing off her setup before tipoff.
Chalamet was joined at MSG by Tracy Morgan, Fat Joe, Ben Stiller, Michael J. Fox, Spike Lee, and Walt Frazier, all diehard Knicks fans cheering from celebrity row. The Knicks won 109-93 to go up 2-0 in the series.
Even from her couch, Jenner was paying attention. After Game 1, Jenner had already made headlines by commenting “daddy” under a Page Six TikTok video showing Chalamet walking into Madison Square Garden in slow motion.
Are the Knicks Better When Kylie Jenner Shows Up?
Apparently, yes!
According to a study by Casino.org conducted ahead of Game 2, the Knicks were 5-1 when Jenner was in attendance, winning by an average margin of 13.5 points. Chalamet alone produced a 7-5 record with an average margin of victory of 9.7 points.
Kylie Jenner grew up a Lakers fan in Southern California, but has been showing up for the Knicks all postseason.
What Happened When Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner Traveled to Cleveland for Game 4?
Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner were both spotted at Rocket Arena in Cleveland for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals on May 25, 2026. Also in attendance were Spike Lee, Tracy Morgan, MGK, Machine Gun Kelly, a Cleveland native, and Olympic women’s hockey gold medalist Laila Edwards.
But it was not the smooth celebrity row experience they were used to at MSG.
Instead of the courtside seats they typically occupy at Madison Square Garden, Chalamet and Jenner were placed in the second row. Spike Lee, the Knicks’ most famous superfan, was pushed back to the fourth row. Rapper Fat Joe had the same experience. The Cavaliers, playing at home, did not give the Knicks’ celebrity supporters the front-row treatment.
Were Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner Booed in Cleveland?
When the arena announcer introduced the celebrities in attendance, including Spike Lee, Tracy Morgan, Pitbull, and others, the crowd reacted normally. When Chalamet and Jenner were called out, some fans began booing, which visibly made Jenner uncomfortable.
The crowd reaction divided opinion online. Some fans defended the couple. Others sided with the Cleveland crowd, given that Chalamet and Jenner were there openly supporting the opposing team.
What Did Chalamet Do After the Knicks Won Game 4?
The Knicks swept the Cavaliers, winning Game 4 by a score of 130-93.
Chalamet and Jenner were joined by Ben Stiller, Spike Lee, and Tracy Morgan in the traveling celebrity row, all hoping to witness history. The Knicks completed the sweep with a dominant performance, reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. The Knicks have not won a championship since 1973.
After the final buzzer, footage circulated of Chalamet celebrating on the court. He also drew attention for apparently trolling Cavaliers fans during the blowout, making Jenner laugh in the process, according to Yahoo Sports.
How Has Kylie Jenner Supported Chalamet During Awards Season?
The NBA playoffs are just one chapter. Jenner has been alongside Chalamet through the entire 2026 awards cycle.
The couple attended the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards, BAFTAs, and the Oscars together this year. Chalamet brought home a Golden Globe and a Satellite Award for Marty Supreme, among other wins.
At the Oscars, Chalamet did not take home the Best Actor award, it went to Michael B. Jordan for Sinners, but the couple still attended the Vanity Fair Oscars Party afterward, where they were photographed together on the red carpet.
At the Vanity Fair party, Jenner wore a custom black McQueen beaded gown with a hip cutout and a 20-carat black diamond ring by Lorraine Schwartz. Chalamet wore an all-white Chrome Hearts leather suit with matching high-tops and a Cartier necklace.
Who Else Was at the Knicks-Cavs Celebrity Row?
Across the series, celebrity row included a rotating cast of notable names:
| Game | Location | Celebrities Spotted |
| Game 1 (ECF) | MSG, New York | Timothée Chalamet |
| Game 2 (ECF) | MSG, New York | Chalamet, Tracy Morgan, Spike Lee, Ben Stiller, Michael J. Fox, Fat Joe, Walt Frazier |
| Game 4 (ECF) | Rocket Arena, Cleveland | Chalamet, Kylie Jenner, Spike Lee, Tracy Morgan, MGK, Ben Stiller, Fat Joe, Pitbull |
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner still together in 2026? Yes. As of May 2026, they are still together and have been dating for approximately three years. They have appeared publicly at multiple NBA games, award shows, and red carpet events together this year.
Is Timothée Chalamet a real Knicks fan? Yes. He has attended multiple games across several playoff rounds in 2025 and 2026 and was visibly courtside for Games 1, 2, and traveled to Cleveland for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Why was Timothée Chalamet at the Knicks game in Cleveland? He traveled to Rocket Arena in Cleveland to watch the Knicks attempt to sweep the Cavaliers in Game 4 of the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals. The Knicks won 130-93 and advanced to the NBA Finals.
What is MGK’s connection to Cleveland? Machine Gun Kelly, whose real name is Colson Baker, was born in Houston but grew up in Cleveland and has long been associated with the city. His attendance at Game 4 was as a hometown fan supporting the Cavaliers, the opposite camp from Chalamet.
Did Kylie Jenner get booed in Cleveland? Yes. When the arena announcer acknowledged the celebrity guests at Rocket Arena during Game 4, some fans in the crowd booed when Chalamet and Jenner were mentioned, presumably because they were visibly supporting the visiting Knicks.
What is Timothée Chalamet’s movie Marty Supreme about? Marty Supreme is a 2025 film directed by Josh Safdie. Chalamet plays an ambitious table tennis player in 1950s New York City. The film earned Chalamet a Golden Globe win and an Oscar nomination for Best Actor in 2026.
