Spike Lee shares he'd trade Oscar 'in a second' for Knicks NBA championship

Spike Lee revealed he would happily give up one of his Academy Awards if it meant seeing the New York Knicks win an NBA championship.

The Oscar-winning filmmaker made the admission during a recent interview as the Knicks continue their NBA Finals run, highlighting the depth of his lifelong devotion to the franchise.

Spike Lee Would Trade Honorary Oscar for Knicks Title

Speaking to CNN, Lee said he would part with one of his two Oscars without hesitation if it guaranteed a championship for New York.

"I got two. I would trade the honorary one and keep the one for screenwriting for 'BlacKkKlansman,'" Lee said. "Trade that in a second."

Lee received a competitive Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for BlacKkKlansman in 2019 and was awarded an honorary Academy Award in 2015 for his contributions to cinema.

Director Would Even Sacrifice Another Denzel Washington Film

The filmmaker also suggested he would be willing to miss out on another collaboration with longtime friend and creative partner Denzel Washington if it helped the Knicks secure the title.

Lee and Washington have worked together on multiple films over the past several decades, including Malcolm X, He Got Game and Inside Man.

"Well, Denzel said publicly like he only has two more films and he's done," Lee said.

He added: "But Denzel understands why, he said already he's retiring."

Lifelong Knicks Fan Has Followed Team for Decades

Lee has long been one of the most recognisable faces at Madison Square Garden and has held New York Knicks season tickets since 1985.

During the team's current NBA Finals campaign, he attended each of the first four games, travelling to San Antonio for Games 1 and 2 before returning to New York for Games 3 and 4.

The director's connection to the franchise dates back to childhood, when his father first took him to games.

In a previous interview with NPR, Lee recalled attending the Knicks' 1970 NBA Finals championship victory.

"He said, 'You go to the game.' I was at the Willis Reed game slash Walt Frazier game, where the Knicks won their first NBA championship," Lee said.

Pope Leo XIV Receives Knicks Jerseys From Lee

Lee also revealed that he recently gifted New York Knicks jerseys to Pope Leo XIV after learning the pontiff attended Villanova University.

Three current Knicks players, including team captain Jalen Brunson, played for Villanova before entering the NBA.

"I had two going to Vatican City. I gave him one, signed by me, and I gave him another for him to sign," Lee said. "It came back two months later, but it was signed."

The filmmaker's unwavering support for the Knicks earned him recognition from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, which honoured him as a SuperFan in 2024.