Spike Lee is celebrating a landmark year for the New York Knicks while hoping the team does not visit the White House. In an interview tied to the upcoming Playback: The Brooklyn Watch Party festival, the filmmaker said he wants the champions to decline a proposed invitation reportedly supported by team owner James Dolan, who is described as a political ally of Donald Trump.
Lee, a longtime Knicks season-ticket holder who began attending games during Patrick Ewing’s rookie season, said the team’s first NBA championship in 53 years was an emotional moment. He also recalled the excitement surrounding the parade and New York’s reaction to the title run. Asked about the White House controversy, Lee said Dolan could not force the players to attend and added that he hoped they would not go.
The director also connected the dispute to Trump’s appearance at a Knicks playoff game. The team had won 13 consecutive playoff games before Dolan invited Trump to Game 3 of the Finals, an event Lee said affected the team’s momentum. Lee acknowledged the tension of supporting a team whose owner has political views and decisions he does not share, but said Dolan ultimately controls the franchise.
Lee’s comments came during a conversation about Playback: The Brooklyn Watch Party, a new two-day festival at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. The event begins Nov. 6 with a screening of “Crooklyn,” followed by a discussion with Lee, his sisters Joie and Cinqué, who wrote the screenplay, and stars Alfre Woodard and Zelda Harris. The festival will also include additional screenings, pop-up activations and a free street fair.
The filmmaker’s production company, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, remains based in Fort Greene near BAM. Lee said “Crooklyn” grew from a screenplay written by his sisters about the family’s life in Brooklyn during the 1970s. He described the street games and neighborhood experiences of his childhood as central to the film, contrasting them with the amount of time many children now spend on their phones.
Lee also spoke about gentrification in Brooklyn and the rising cost of living in New York. He said many African American, Puerto Rican and Dominican residents had been forced to move because they could no longer afford to remain in their neighborhoods. He expressed support for Mayor Mamdani’s affordable-housing efforts in Sunnyside, Queens, saying he had voted for him.
Beyond the Knicks, Lee discussed his film career and current projects. He said he had no projects he could announce and explained that he and Denzel Washington rejected the possibility of an “Inside Man” sequel because they felt the original film had achieved what they wanted. He also criticized a later version made without them.
The director addressed his political views as well, including his support for Palestinian human rights. Lee said he had continued to receive hate mail and described an incident in which an activist confronted him outside his home and placed an Israeli flag in his mailbox. He also defended athletes and entertainers who speak publicly about Palestinian rights.
Looking ahead to the Knicks’ next season, Lee kept his expectations high: “Back-to-back!” He also urged the team to re-sign Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart, saying they should be paid what they are worth.
Sources: Variety.