In the NBA, New York Knicks fans are always among the most notorious groups. They constantly heckle players from courtside seats to throw them off their game using explicit trash talk.
Moreover, given the scale of their involvement in games, even the likes of legendary Emmy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington are included in this. If director Spike Lee is to be believed, as he once so spontaneously decided to trash-talk Boston Celtics’ superstar Jayson Tatum that it became almost impossible for Lee to contain his laughter during the live play.
Lee laughs at how Denzel unapologetically trash-talked Tatum
Theatrics are often at the forefront of today’s NBA.
Players sometimes oversell contact to draw fouls and when they disagree with a referee’s call, or lack thereof, they go to great lengths to make their frustration clear.
However, this sort of behavior and antics do not sit well with Denzel Washington, who, when seated courtside, had no hesitation in calling out whoever he feels is guilty.
Appearing on “The Young Man and The Three” podcast, Spike Lee recalled an incident that perfectly captured Denzel’s sharp wit. While the latter took almost no time in calling out Tatum for his unnecessary theatrics, the moment became so hilarious that Lee couldn’t even hold his laughter inside.
“So, I got a crazy story, this is against the Celtics. This game, Denzel is sitting and so there is a foul call, but the refs didn’t call it. They just said, ‘Out of bounds.’ So Jayson is still talking to the refs and Denzel said, ‘Yo Tatum, I am the only actor here,'” Lee recalled while mimicking the moment to the host of the show, Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers. “The ref was laughing, Jayson left, I was dying. That was hilarious, man.”
Today’s NBA players have to face the heat in almost every game
In the NBA, players recognize that the courtside celebrities are trying to get under their skin. At times, it becomes a playful exchange – smiles are shared, lighthearted banter is exchanged and the game goes on. But there are also moments when fans cross the line, escalating from spirited trash talk into outright disrespect.
Fortunately for Washington, his stature ensures he is met with respect rather than retaliation. As one of the most celebrated actors in Hollywood and a figure deeply admired within the NBA community for his work socially, Denzel commands a level of reverence that prevents players from lashing back at him. That is why even someone as fiery and competitive as JT could not bring himself to respond.
Put simply, for the Celtics’ six-time All-Star, it was unimaginable to challenge an icon of Washington’s caliber, regardless of the heat of the moment. That being said, this unique admission shows the constant intersection between celebrity culture and professional basketball.
So, be it Tatum or any other new generation player, they constantly have to be on their toes, as anyone and almost everyone is willing to provoke them in the wrong way. On the other hand, for entertainment fans, it is a glimpse of how even a Hollywood legend like Denzel can become part of the theatre that defines the NBA today.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 28, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.