Timothée Chalamet has a championship now—even if it isn't an Academy Award.
The actor was courtside at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio on Saturday (June 13) night as the New York Knicks defeated the Spurs 94-90 in Game 5, claiming the franchise's first NBA title since 1973.
Moments after the final buzzer, Chalamet went in front of ESPN cameras and shouted, "Way rather this than the Oscars! Come on, baby!”
Chalamet, 30, had entered the 2026 awards season as a Best Actor nominee for Marty Supreme. Michael B. Jordan ultimately took the statue for Sinners. It was Chalamet's second consecutive Best Actor loss, following his nomination for A Complete Unknown the year before.
Saturday night offered a different kind of redemption. During the tense closing minutes of Game 5, Chalamet was spotted taking deep breaths from his courtside seat as the Knicks held on.
Jalen Brunson carried the Knicks to the title with 45 points in Game 5 and was named Finals MVP.
"I have no words. It's everything I ever dreamed of," Brunson said through tears, per People. New York had trailed by double digits after the first quarter before mounting a fourth-quarter rally to close out.
The celebration continued in the locker room, where players sprayed Chalamet with champagne and called him "Lisan al-Gaib," a nod to his role in Dune, according to Basketball Network.
He made his way to Brunson directly: "You did that, bro. You got the ring, bro. That was all you." He also embraced Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks legend Allan Houston, and team owner James Dolan.
The 4-1 series win ends a 53-year championship drought for New York. Chalamet was just 4-years-old the last time the Knicks even reached the Finals, in 1999.
Chalamet wasn’t the only celeb who made an appearance at the Finals: Taylor Swift, Prince Harry, Sydney Sweeney, Spike Lee, and Adam Sandler were among those seen at various games. Lee, who became a Knicks season ticket holder in 1985, watched his first championship as a fan 41 years later.
A victory parade through New York is set for Thursday.
