Hank Azaria expressed his disappointment about Taylor Swift receiving courtside seats at Game 4 of the NBA Finals. During a recent discussion on The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, the actor, known for his role in The Simpsons, noted the high celebrity presence at the match between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. He remarked that only top celebrities, or those on the “A+ list,” were seen sitting courtside.
Azaria singled out Swift, saying, “I know she’s the hugest thing in the world, but we had to sit with her all through the NFL,” referring to her relationship with Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce, before adding that it was “ridiculous” she received three courtside seats alongside friends Alana and Este Haim.
As a dedicated Knicks fan, Azaria explained the difficult process for celebrities to obtain complimentary tickets at Madison Square Garden. He pointed out that on the day of the game, celebrities like Ben Stiller or Tracy Morgan are often assured entry, while others face uncertainty. He believes that even director Spike Lee generally pays for his tickets due to high demand.
After missing out on complimentary tickets for Game 3, Azaria managed to enter Game 4 for free. However, he found his allocated seats in the Cisco Suites, which are located in the upper bowl of the arena, less than ideal. He described being "way up in what they call the Cisco Suites, which are like the ceiling," noting other stars were similarly situated.
Despite being dissatisfied with his seats, Azaria felt fortunate to attend the game. The Knicks achieved a dramatic victory in Game 4, winning 107 to 106, and later clinched their first NBA championship in 53 years by defeating the Spurs 94 to 90 in Game 5.
