Ben Stiller Shocks Fans: He’d Trade an Oscar for a Knicks Championship
Ben Stiller, the man who brought us *Zoolander* and *Tropic Thunder*, just dropped a bombshell that might make Hollywood gasp: he’d rather see the New York Knicks win an NBA championship than take home an Oscar. Yes, you read that correctly. The actor and director, who has been nominated for Emmys and Golden Globes but never an Academy Award, admitted this on the latest episode of Travis and Jason Kelce’s *New Heights* podcast. Stiller, a lifelong Knicks fan, joked that a Knicks title is statistically more likely than him winning an Oscar—so he’s “definitely down” for that scenario. But even if he *knew* both were possible, he’d still choose the Knicks’ victory over his own Oscar glory.
This isn’t just a casual fan’s pipe dream; it’s a full-blown obsession. Stiller’s love for the Knicks is so intense that he even tweeted about them *during* this year’s Oscars ceremony, where he was a presenter. Talk about priorities. The Knicks, for their part, haven’t won an NBA championship since 1973, and their last Eastern Conference title was in 1999. But with stars like Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns lighting up the court, Stiller’s hopes might not be entirely misplaced.
Travis Kelce, who knows a thing or two about championship droughts (his Cleveland Cavaliers went 52 years without a title before LeBron James led them to victory in 2016), empathized with Stiller’s plight. If Cleveland can break their curse, why not New York? Stiller’s declaration is a reminder that even A-list celebrities have their own version of “normal people” problems—like rooting for a perpetually disappointing sports team.
But let’s be real: Stiller’s choice is both endearing and slightly absurd. An Oscar is the pinnacle of cinematic achievement, a symbol of artistic excellence that most actors spend their entire careers chasing. Meanwhile, a Knicks championship would bring joy to millions of fans but wouldn’t exactly pad Stiller’s resume. Then again, maybe that’s the point. In a world where celebrities often seem detached from reality, Stiller’s unapologetic fandom is refreshingly relatable.
So, while Hollywood might be scratching its head, Knicks fans everywhere are nodding in solidarity. After all, who needs a golden statuette when you can have a parade down Broadway?
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ
