Spike Lee admits he would've had to move from New York if it wasn't for John Starks: "Every time I see him, I give him a hug"

Spike Lee is synonymous with the passion and energy that define the New York Knicks franchise and its fanbase.

Few things feel more complete in a playoff series than seeing him courtside, virtually living each possession. However, there was one moment in time when Knicks fans vilified him so much that they wished he would stop showing up altogether.

Lee, however, credited John Starks for saving him from becoming a permanent villain to his own team’s faithful.

Lee was blamed for the Knicks’ situation

During the 1994 playoffs, when Michael Jordan was out of the league, the Knicks vs. Pacers’ rivalry took center stage.

With players headbutting one another and getting feisty, things escalated in Game 5 when it seemed like New York was cruising to a win after holding a 70:58 lead after the first three quarters.

From his usual courtside seat, Lee was continuously taunting and mocking Reggie Miller, who took the onus to shut the famous director down in the fourth quarter.

As a result, Miller erupted for 25 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Pacers to a 93-86 win. This fourth-quarter collapse stunned the Knicks fans, who only blamed Lee for instigating Miller and forcing him to elevate his game to such a high level.

Ultimately, as the Pacers looked to close the series in Game 6 at their home court, the narrative around Lee was so dark that the Knicks fans hoped for him not to show up in the arena. But John Starks refused to let the Knicks fall down so easily, as he registered a 26-point performance on 72.7 percent shooting from the field, including five three-pointers and three steals, to help the Knicks force Game 7, where they eventually secured a four-point victory.

For Lee, Starks’ heroics were more than just a playoff-saving performance. Had the Knicks bowed out in Game 6, Lee believes he would have been permanently vilified and perhaps forced to move out of the city of New York.

Instead, Starks, inadvertently, stopped that from happening, which Lee had full realization of.

“It was late in the game because the ushers came, they were lying on the court with the rope and then Starks went berserk. So, we came back Game 7, Patrick did the tip-in. But every time I see John Starks, I got his jersey everywhere upstairs, I give him a hug ’cause we had lost Game 6, I would have had to move. I’m not kidding,” Lee recalled. “I got nothing but love for Starks because he came through.”

Starks saved Spike Lee

Though Indiana and Miller would have their revenge over the next six years, eliminating the Knicks three times, the 1994 series remains iconic.

It was the year the Knicks clawed their way to the Finals despite being down 3-2, with Starks’ Game 6 brilliance cementing his place in Knicks lore – and saving Spike Lee from wearing the scarlet letter of blame.

Eventually, today, Lee stands as the ultimate symbol of Knicks fandom, unapologetically vocal and endlessly loyal.

In every playoff series, no matter the opponent, Lee is there courtside, cheering for the Knicks without any fear, as he knows that in his ultimate test, Starks saw him through.

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 19, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Spike Lee admits he would’ve had to move from New York if it wasn’t for John Starks: “Every time I see him, I give him a hug”

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