Actor Ben Stiller made a brief cameo appearance Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.
His role? Trolling TNT color analyst Reggie Miller.
Miller, of course, has become one of the big storylines in the New York Knicks-Indiana Pacers Eastern Conference Semifinals series. The former Pacers star frequently broke the hearts of Knicks fans in the 1990s, famously taunting Knicks superfans such as Spike Lee.
Even 30 years later, many Knicks fans have still not forgiven Miller, now in his 19th year with TNT Sports. Miller knew he’d be in a for a tough greeting when the series shifted to New York. He joked on The Dan Patrick Show Monday, “The Boogeyman is coming back to town to call the game. I’m coming.”
So before Wednesday’s game, TNT’s Shaquille O’Neal asked Miller to talk about his relationship with Knicks fans.
“They still hate me,” Miller said. “But I love when a lot of New Yorkers come up to me, whether it’s in the airport or just walking around the city, the first thing that comes out of their mouth, Shaq, is, ‘I hate you. I really do detest you. But I respect your game and I respect how you approached it.'”
At that exact moment, as if scripted, Stiller walked past Miller, turned, and pointed to him as if to say, “The Boogeyman!” before walking off.
While Knicks killer Reggie Miller is answering a question about New Yorkers hating him pregame on ‘Inside the NBA,’ Knicks superfan Ben Stiller crashes the shot to illustrate the point 😅 pic.twitter.com/g24Q6fU37o
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 9, 2024
It was one of those blink-and-you-missed-it moments, but plenty of fans caught it live, or shortly after when Inside the NBA pointed it out.
Reggie Miller also gave a dramatic reenactment of his reaction to John Starks headbutting him in 1993
…and blew some kisses to Knicks fans after seeing Stiller’s heckling pic.twitter.com/NUhcNgp7wO
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 9, 2024
Ben Stiller walking by giving Reggie Miller crap during a live hit is playoff basketball pic.twitter.com/HjDf1Zk8PW
— McNeil (@Reflog_18) May 8, 2024
Ben Stiller trolling Reggie Miller 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/SW2nxrP8ML
— Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) May 9, 2024
Ben stiller pointing at Reggie miller while reenacting his headbutt flop and saying “I hate you” lol what a fever dream sequence of events
— PACER VOICES (@hoosier_ham) May 8, 2024
It’s not the first time Stiller has made headlines during this postseason. During the Knicks’ opening round series against the Philadelphia 76ers, he called out ABC analyst Richard Jefferson for one of his observations.
[@awfulannouncing; Photo Credit: TNT]
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.