Anne Hathaway has made her basketball allegiances abundantly clear. The Oscar-winning actor revealed she would trade a second Academy Award for a New York Knicks championship, underscoring her deep investment in the franchise's long-suffering fanbase.
Hathaway's connection to the Knicks runs deeper than casual fandom. The actor has become a visible presence at Madison Square Garden, and her appearances have coincided with the team's recent playoff runs. On April 20, the Knicks fell to the Atlanta Hawks in Game 2 of their playoff series. Days later, on May 1, "The Devil Wears Prada 2" premiered with Hathaway's character sharing screen time with Knicks star Jalen Brunson, cementing her status as courtside royalty in Manhattan.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe star won her Oscar in 2013 for "Les Misérables," playing Fantine to international acclaim. She earned a second nomination in 2023 for her performance in "Armageddon Time," Yorgos Lanthimos' indie drama that premiered at Cannes. Clearly, another statue remains within professional reach for an actor of her caliber and resume.
Yet Hathaway's statement carries real weight in New York sports culture. The Knicks have not won an NBA championship since 1970, the second-longest drought in league history. For a franchise that once defined basketball excellence under Red Holzman and featured legends like Walt Frazier and Willis Reed, the championship drought represents generational suffering. Recent seasons have sparked renewed hope. Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson have provided star power, and the team's development under head coach Tom Thibodeau has attracted genuine contention conversations.
Hathaway's preference also reflects the broader celebrity culture orbiting the Knicks. Movie stars, musicians, and athletes routinely populate the MSG celebrity rows, treating playoff games as cultural events. Her commitment to the team's success speaks to something deeper than typical famous-person fandom. She is not merely attending games for tabloid shots or Instagram content. Rather, she is publicly sacrificing personal accolades for team success, a gesture that resonates with Knicks Nation's long-suffering mentality.
The inclusion of Brunson in "The Devil Wears Prada 2" adds another layer. The film, directed by David Frankel and based on Lauren Weisberger's bestseller, represents the franchise's first major sequel attempt. The original 2006 film starred Meryl Streep as Runway magazine's imperious editor Miranda Priestly and became a cultural touchstone. Hathaway's return as Andy Sachs carries nostalgic weight for millennials who grew up with the film.
By weaving Brunson and the Knicks into the film's fabric, the production grounds itself in contemporary New York culture. Hathaway's willingness to center Knicks basketball in her promotional calendar reflects genuine passion, not contractual obligation.
Her statement arrives as the Knicks navigate playoff expectations. With Brunson healthy and the roster constructed for depth, championship aspirations have shifted from fantasy to plausible outcome. Hathaway's public commitment adds star power to the team's championship narrative, reminding audiences that even Oscar winners believe in the Knicks' path forward.