Miami Heat Superfan DJ Khaled Draws Jeers At NBA Finals

Madison Square Garden is known for bringing out the stars. 

Spike Lee, Chris Rock and Ben Stiller are among the regulars who can be seen sitting courtside. Things have gotten even more extreme during the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs. 

The series shifted to New York Monday for Game 3, which was won by the Spurs. The Knicks lead the series 2-1. 

But the Miami Heat found a way to get involved in the Finals thanks to DJ Khaled. He is a huge Heat fan and was seen sitting courtside alongside rapper Fat Joe and former Miami Dolphins and Hurricanes coach Jimmy Johnson. 

While Johnson and Fat Joe were left unscathed, DJ Khaled took lots of criticism for his presence. 

Many fans were upset with DJ Khaled's behavior during the game. They felt he was on the phone throughout, causing them to question his commitment to the game. Others thought he had no business in the arena because he is considered a Heat super fan. 

That doesn't make much sense because celebrities attend all sorts of games despite having allegiances to their teams. South Florida attorney Laurence Leavy, who goes by the name "Marlins Man," is among the biggest fans of the franchise. Still, he never gets ripped for attending the World Series wearing a bright orange Marlins jersey.  

DJ Khaled drew headlines even with President Donald Trump in attendance. Trump was cheered and booed by the local fans. 

It seems fans were more upset because of DJ Khaled's strong ties to the Heat. His most popular moment was during Game 5 of the 2022 Eastern Conference semifinals against the Philadelphia 76ers.  Late in the game, he grabbed a loose ball from his courtside seat. He then handed the ball to Heat guard Max Strus and rubbed the shoulders of coach Erik Spoelstra before heading back to his seat. 

It became an instant viral moment. 

“He’s such a great fan,’’ Spoelstra said at the time. “Over the years, I’ve said, ‘Hello,’ a few times, but that was a first ... That was funny," Spoelstra said. "I didn't notice until the end when he was getting the crowd fired up but I loved it. That's was awesome. I was humbled to be a part of that moment."

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Shandel Richardson is the publisher of HeatRoundtable. He can be reached at [email protected]