While courtside seats seem out of reach for most of us, Hollywood's A-listers are lucky enough to grab them whenever they please. And some of these NBA fans took us by surprise! Let's take a look which celebs hit up the games.
Chrissy Teigen & John Legend
Chrissy Teigen and John Legend have been hitting up NBA games on date nights for almost as long as they've been together. From All-Star games to final play-offs, the former Sports Illustrated model and her Grammy-winning husband have seen it all, all from exclusive courtside seats.
But these seats came with some risks. And no one knows that better now than Teigen and Legend. Back in 2019 on April 9th, the mom and dad of two were sitting front and center when Dwayne Wade, the former Miami Heat baller totally wiped out on them. But Chrissy and John laughed it off, and even have a framed pic of the crash.
Rihanna
Rihanna's been to her fair share of NBA games, and it wasn't just for the stadium snacks. Rih's been caught cheering on from courtside seats for the Los Angeles Lakers. In fact, according to Time magazine, Rihanna's words of encouragement were for her favorite player: LeBron James.
And the NBA loved Rihanna right back. In fact, Joel Embiid, the Philidelphia 76ers baller, tried his luck with the Fenty mogul but faced a tough rejection: "Come back when you're an all-star," Rihanna said. Ouch! But lucky for Embiid, the all-star dreams came true. And for Rih, well, she still attends games as often as she can.
Khloe Kardashian
Khloe is one loyal partner. Between her time with Lamar Odom and Tristan Thompson, the youngest of the Kardashian sisters has done her fair share of courtside cheering. And that has come with some switches in team alliances. From the Lakers to the Cavaliers, Khloe's rolled with the punches and supported her boos from the side.
Lucky for Khlo, this picture was from a game with a happy ending. The Cleveland Cavaliers dominated the court in a 101-95 win against the Los Angeles Lakers. Unfortunately, that win wouldn't take them far in the 2018-2019 season. But hopefully, Koko can be a good luck charm for a different team of her choosing next season.
Adam Levine
Adam Levine's love for the NBA was so deep that some were starting to wonder if one of Maroon 5's love songs was actually about basketball, rather than Levine's wife, Behati Prinsloo. And the target of his burning affection? None other than the Los Angeles Lakers.
Adam's such a diehard basketball lover that when a fan asked him what his favorite soccer team was, he redirected his answer to basketball. Now that's commitment! And you can see the loyalty for yourself, as Levine was snapped diligently watching a Lakers versus Pelicans game.
Kevin Hart
Kevin Hart's height might have been keeping him from a career in the NBA, but he made quite a name for himself over the years as an enthusiastic presence on the courtside seats. However, unlike other celebs on the list, according to Bleacher Report, Hart hasn't shared his favorite team.
And from pictures of him at the games, you wouldn't be able to tell. Hart usually gives all his support, cheering and throwing in his own little commentary. And he even graced the court from time to time at the NBA All-Star Celebrity Games. He managed to take home back-to-back MVP awards for the events.
Travis Scott & Kylie Jenner
Romance may come and go, but basketball is forever, right? Well, it looks like it, at least for Travis and Kylie. The baby daddy and momma hit the town to catch a Rockets versus Golden State Warriors game back when they were still an item. And based on the picture, Scott was a little more into it than little Jenner...
But that was no surprise, after all, the Houston Rockets were his hometown team, and a rapper never forgets his roots. Unfortunately for Scott, his love for the Rockets wouldn't be enough to carry them through the Western Conference finals of the 2018 NBA playoffs. But there's always next season.
Spike Lee
Oscar-winning director Spike Lee has been one the Knicks' biggest fans for a while. And despite having been born in Georgia, he's pretty much reinvented himself as a native New Yorker, and certainly cheers like one. And even with blue and orange flowing through his veins, Lee's relationship with the franchise hit some bumps back in 2020.
After a fight with Madison Square Gardens security over which elevator to use, Spike reached his last nerve. He went on the record, saying he wouldn't be returning for the foreseeable future. "I'm done for the season. I'm done," he said. Thankfully the anger didn't stick for long, and he returned courtside this year.
Bella Hadid
Bella Hadid stole the show during this Lakers versus Knicks game back in the 2017-2018 season. The model gave it her all while cheering on during the match, which saw the Knicks take home a 113-109 win against the Lakers. So why exactly were all eyes on Bella?
Well, the former Victoria's Secret model was cheering hard. Pics from that night featured her on the edge of her seat and she even collapsed on the court in anticipation. Bella definitely gained her mega-fan status that night. Luckily she had her friend and R&B singer, Justine Skye, to help her keep it together.
Jimmy Fallon
Who knew the king of NBC comedy also loved basketball? Jimmy Fallon nabbed courtside seats for him and his young guests as the Philidelphia 76ers took on the New York City Knicks. And from having lived in NY since his early days on Saturday Night Live, the comedy legend showed some loyalty with a Knicks sweater.
And that match had some other heavy-hitting comedian appearances. In fact, both Ben Stiller and Lorne Michaels stopped by and sat with Jimmy during the game. But in the end, the Knicks had the last laugh, nabbing a 99-87 win against the 76ers. Looks like Knicks avoided being the punchline of one of Fallon's jokes that night.
Guy Fieri
Guy Fieri was known for bringing heat to the kitchen, but who would guess he matched the energy on the court? Well, from the sidelines at least. The mayor of Flavortown has been a certified Golden State Warriors mega-fan for ages, and is even in the good books with the franchise's poster boy, Steph Curry.
But the Warriors-Fieri love story went back way before Curry started. "You didn't grow up in Northern California without being a Warriors fan," the celebrity chef shared. And the passion even turned to recruitment. When talking to GQ, Fieri admitted his role in Kevin Durant's moving from Oklahoma to San Francisco back in 2016.
Kanye West
Though his focused look didn't accurately show his enthusiasm, Kanye West has made NBA courtside appearances ever since his career took off. But where has the famous rapper placed his loyalties?
Well, from Ye's shirt, fans assumed he was cheering for the Lakers. But other theories arose that Ye's loyalties laid elsewhere. The Grammy-winning rapper also showed major love for his hometown team, the Chicago Bulls. He even hit the court during their NBA play-off game for a surprise concert! Talk about repping Chi-town!
Drake
Now, this one wouldn't be a shock to many. From NBA Awards hosting gigs to basketball references in his bars, Drake has proved his die-hard fan status over and over again. And despite his league-wide love of the game, no one had a place in his heart quite like his hometown team, the Toronto Raptors.
So it wouldn't be that far of a stretch to say that 2019 was a pretty good year for Drake. The Raptors went on to clinch an NBA Championship title against the Golden State Warriors. In fact, this picture is from the very same play-off season, at a game between the Raptors and the Bucks.
ASAP Rocky
ASAP Rocky, born Rakim Athelaston Mayers, would take any opportunity to show off his incredible outfits, and that included NBA game appearances. The Babushka boi rapper turned his courtside seats into a fashion show with his fur coat and bling but still managed to get some cheering in.
So who does ASAP cheer for? Well, there was no official confirmation on his favorite team, but based on his Manhattan roots, the Knicks were a solid guess. Here, the recording artist was snapped at a Knicks versus Pistons game, where the Knicks lost by 18 points.
Mark Wahlberg
It seems as though Mark Wahlberg would cheer on just about any team that comes out of Boston, Massachusetts. Including the Boston Celtics, and it appears that it runs in the family. The Infinite actor and producer also indoctrinated his son, Michael, into the fan club.
According to NBC Sports, Wahlberg has been bleeding green for years. He and his brother Donnie have been photographed on countless occasions cheering on from the courtside, and have even approached prospective players for unofficial recruitment. Talk about an involved fan!
Kendrick Lamar
Hip-Hop and basketball seem go hand in hand, so it only made sense that Kendrick Lamar was posted up front and center at an NBA game. And as a Compton native, Lamar's got long ties to his home team, the Los Angeles Lakers. But the admiring went both ways, and the Lakers were pretty big Kendrick fans, too.
In fact, Kendrick came to speak to the team as part of the Genius Series back in 2018. The first-ever Pulitzer-winning rapper had a thing or two to share on humility and success and passed on some serious wisdom to the players. "There's so many parallels between artists like Kendrick," former Lakers guard Josh Hart said.
Taylor Swift
Could we have been wrong all along about Taylor Swift's catalog of break-up songs? Maybe the heartbreak had nothing to do with an ex, but rather the tough losses her team has suffered. According to Bleacher Report, Swift's number one team is the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Well, at least 2016 was a good year for Taylor and her Cavs. But the years that followed? Ehh, not so much... The Cavs saw some tough losses in the finals against the Golden State Warriors two years in a row. But no worries, in Taylor's own words, "shake it off, just shake it off."
David Beckham
Ever since David made the move over to Los Angeles to play with LA Galaxy's soccer team, he's certainly adapted to Hollywood life. And that meant cheering on the Lakers. Beckham has even turned it into a family affair, by bringing his kids along to the games.
And according to the star himself, in another life, he could've seen himself as an NBA player. The dedicated fan has made a point of attending as many games as possible since coming over from England. So no doubt David is looking for that 2020 Championship energy to come back again next season.
Ashton Kutcher & Mila Kunis
One thing was for sure, That '70s Show co-stars-turned-lovers Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis knew how to do a proper date night. Because who needed a fancy dinner and reservations when you could chow down on nachos and cheap beer, all while catching your favorite team on the court.
But speaking of favorite teams, where exactly did Ashton and Mila's loyalties lay? When it came to the NFL, it was obvious, as the two have made their love for the Chicago Bears loud and clear. But as for the NBA, this ones a little tough to call. Based on the passionate cheering from this game, our bets were that they bleed purple and gold.
Beyoncé & Jay-Z
Z and Queen Bey are about as famous as you can get when it comes to celeb power couples at NBA games. And the hip-hop royalty couple decided to take it a step further when Jay-Z became part-owner of the Brooklyn Nets. Unfortunately, Jay-Z ended up having to sell his shares, but the love of the game lived on.
And the baller life made it into Jay's lyrics as well. From Crazy in Love to Empire State of Mind, the rapper has worked his passion for hoop into his bars. So while Jay and Bey may not be the world's most shocking NBA fans, this next duo sure turned some heads when they showed up courtside.
Prince William & Princess Kate
From hip-hop royalty to British Royalty, next up is none other than Prince William and Princess Kate of the United Kingdom. The Royal British couple attended their fair share of basketball games during their time in the United States, and have even run into Bey and Jay on the way to their seats.
The visiting royals found the time to catch a Cleveland Cavaliers versus Brooklyn Nets game, and also snagged some pics with LeBron James. According to Bleacher Report, James was thrilled. "To say they were traveling here and one of the things that they wanted to do was see me play, it's a pretty big deal," he said.
Snoop Dogg
This one was a serious no-brainer. Snoop has made his love for the Los Angeles Lakers clear since day one. In fact, the love is so strong, that he collaborated with other rappers to create the LA Laker Anthem back in 2010. And according to Snoop's verse, a fan of the Lakers is a friend in his books.
"My brotha from another mutha, fella who reppin' LA," the rapper spat in his part. And it was true, Snoop dropped his rap legend status the second he stepped into that stadium. You could catch him cheering on with other die-hard Lakers fans at the Staples Center at nearly every home game.
Matthew McConaughey
These days, Matthew McConaughey has made a name for himself in the football world. Between the Texas Longhorns and Dallas Cowboys, how could the True Detective star squeeze any time for basketball? Well, we didn't know how, but he found a way to do it.
Pictured above was McConaughey during a Pelicans versus Kings match, which saw New Orleans reach the buzzer with a 94-91 win over Sacramento. As for allegiances, McConaughey didn't put his heart into one team in the NBA. Unlike the NFL and NCAA, Matthew's more of a league lover when it came to basketball. For now, at least…
Eminem
Eminem and Detroit go way back. So it was no shocker that Slim Shady's loyalties have lied with the Pistons for as long as he can remember. And Eminem's favorite franchise has benefited from the love. From an appearance at the season opener to cheering on from the sidelines, Eminem knew how to treat his hometown right.
But clearly, hometown loyalties also came with heartbreak. And being a Detroit fan hasn't been easy. Since their win in 2004, the Pistons haven't even seen a Championship win, but have managed to take home some conference and division titles. Who knows, maybe the 2021-2022 season could be their year.
Michael B. Jordan
While some celebrities got interested in basketball once front-row seats were sent their way, Michael B. Jordan's love for the game goes went back. In fact, in a 2019 interview, the Creed star revealed that his first-ever email address as a kid was BILNEM@aol.com. It was short for "basketball is life nothing else matters."
Jordan's spoken about his passion for the sport a lot in his interviews. But as for his favorite team? It's changed over time. When speaking with ESPN, he said he started out as a Knicks fan, but over time he became more "neutral." "You become fans of our friends," he said.
Leonardo DiCaprio
Leo has been a devoted Lakers fan since breaking onto the Hollywood scene. But just like in this picture, you wouldn't be able to tell from his outfit. No jersey in sight here - not even a hat: DiCaprio has gained a reputation for notoriously showing up to games in cap related to different leagues altogether.
It's such a long-standing tradition of his that Sports Illustrated even shared a collage of his confused-fan-fashion for the actor's 40th birthday back in 2014. But hats aside, Leo's loyalties shone through his regular appearances at the Staples Center. You could catch him cheering at most home games.
Chance the Rapper
Hometown loyalties ran deep with Chance the Rapper. And like Ye, Chance had nothing but love for the Chicago Bulls. But the rapper and the franchise took their relationship one step further, by joining forces to help their beloved Chi-town. And let's just say, it was a million-dollar collab.
Both the Grammy-winning rapper and legendary basketball franchise donated $1 million each to Chicago Public Schools to help with budget cutbacks. Chance proved to be one devoted native. And if you wanted to hear for yourself, you could check out his track titled after his hometown. Keep scrolling for more loyal locals.
Justin Timberlake
Ok, so there's hometown love and then there's hometown love. And Justin Timberlake took his love for Memphis to a whole other level back in 2012. He invested in his beloved Grizzlies, making himself a part-owner in the franchise. And one of the many perks (other than bragging rights, of course) was amazing seats at games.
But even throwing millions into a team didn't save him from bandwagon accusations. In fact, one chirper threw Justin some shade after he was photographed in a Lakers jersey. But Justin wouldn't hear any of it. As far as he's concerned, he's got blue and gold in his blood.
Tom Holland
But there's one celebrity who wasn't afraid to embrace the bandwagon life. After all, he considered himself fairly new in the U.S. and therefore a rookie when it came to the NBA. So when Tom Holland sat down with Jimmy Kimmel and Robert Downey Jr. to talk ball, he had nothing to hide.
"I'm not even ashamed," the Cherry star laughed. He jumped on the Golden State Warriors train the first time he saw them play against the Knicks in New York. And since then? San Fran all the way, baby. So it's safe to say that Holland had a pretty good time during the 2017 and 2018 playoffs...
Adam DeVine
And just like Tom Holland, Adam DeVine wasn't afraid to fess up to another NBA taboo: Cheering on multiple different teams. That's right, the Isn't It Romantic actor felt he had enough NBA love to split between two franchises: The Los Angeles Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks.
"Obviously I'm team Clippers (#1 in the west) but I also love the Mavs," the comedian shared on Instagram. But the split loyalties didn't impact his enthusiasm. And as you can see in the picture, DeVine took a missed shot pretty hard. But no worries, the Clippers managed a 109-104 win over Denver by buzzer time.
Chris Pratt
Next up is another couple that unfortunately bit the dust. But back in 2013, love was in the air for the Guardians of the Galaxy star and his then-girlfriend, Anna Faris. The two cheered on as the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers fought it out on the court. But could Chris dunk as well as he could cheer?
Well, in a behind-the-scenes clip of him, Jennifer Lawrence, and the rest of the Passengers crew, Pratt showed us what he was made of... And we'll leave you to be the judge. According to JLo, she was a better hooper, and we saw Chris miss some pretty easy shots. But hey, his cheering looked all-star worthy at least.