When it comes to celebrities who attend sporting events, some are legitimate fans, while others are seemingly just there to be seen. But if ever there was any question which category Ben Stiller falls into, he made it clear on Sunday by taking to social media to complain about the broadcasters in the Game 4 showdown between his beloved New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers.
In particular, it was ESPN’s Richard Jefferson who drew the ire of the Zoolander star. During the second quarter of the first-round matchup, Stiller took to X to offer an observation about Jefferson’s analysis while on the call for ABC.
“Richard Jefferson claiming Embiid doesn’t get calls, and doesn’t foul,” Stiller wrote.
Richard Jefferson claiming Embiid doesn’t get calls, and doesn’t foul
— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) April 28, 2024
To be clear, Stiller wasn’t paying homage to Norm MacDonald by live-tweeting what was on his television. Rather, it was fairly easy to read between the lines that the Dodgeball star disagreed with Jefferson’s analysis regarding Embiid and was presenting it in a way to make it sound ridiculous.
So much so that after the game — a 97-92 Knicks victory to take a commanding 3-1 series lead — Jefferson quote-tweeted Stiller with a response.
“Benjamin I love you but that’s not what I said!” Jefferson replied.
“Respect Richard. But Embiid gets SO many calls,” the 58-year-old Stiller responded. “And the reference was to the one foul that Batum did commit.”
As if that wasn’t enough, the Meet The Parents star hit the former NBA swingman with a double reply, taking issue with Embiid grabbing Knicks center Mitchell Robinson’s ankle during a perceived dirty play in Game 3.
“But he grabbed Mitch’s ankle and should have been ejected. Xx,” Stiller wrote.
“I didn’t do that game but I agree with you,” Jefferson noted.
I didn’t do that game but I agree with you.
— Richard Jefferson (@Rjeff24) April 29, 2024
Jefferson proceeded to end the conversation by offering his own critique of Stiller’s critique, complete with a gif of the Emmy Award-winning actor from his cameo in Anchorman.
“So you were referencing when we THOUGHT it was on Embiid but the VIDEO and REFS showed in was on Batum and we corrected it and you were bothered by that?” Jefferson wrote. “Ps… he does get a lot of calls as reigning MVP’s often do.”
So you were referencing when we THOUGHT it was on Embiid but the VIDEO and REFS showed in was on Batum and we corrected it and you were bothered by that? Ps… he does get a lot of calls as reigning MVP’s often do. https://t.co/6n09KcK1au pic.twitter.com/sFKM7hPtkd
— Richard Jefferson (@Rjeff24) April 29, 2024
As Stiller alluded to, his criticism of Jefferson’s analysis came after a play in which Embiid was seemingly whistled for a foul that was ultimately called on Sixers forward Nicolas Batum. Moments earlier, the 17-year NBA veteran made note that the reason why the 2023 NBA MVP gets so many free throw attempts is because of his physical style of play.
Who was right is ultimately irrelevant, as the bigger story here is Stiller being such an unhinged Knicks fan that he’s live-tweeting games and implying that announcers are biased against his favorite team.
Take one look at his X feed and you would have no idea that he is one of the biggest Hollywood stars of the 21st century. Rather, he’s merely a man rooting on his favorite basketball team in a massive playoff game with an irrationality reminiscent of some of the characters he has played on the silver screen.
