Ben Stiller watches a New York Knicks game.
Ben Stiller just gave New York Knicks fans a perfect little moment amid the reported Jose Alvarado trade.
On Feb. 5, Stiller – one of the Knicks’ most famous celebrity fans –replied on X with, “I’ll be waiting with open arms,” after reporter Jake Fischer tagged him in a post imagining Madison Square Garden erupting if Alvarado ever ended up in orange and blue.
It’s not an official trade update by any team. But it’s the kind of viral, Knicks-coded interaction that can amplify a rumor cycle fast, especially when it involves a fan-favorite celebrity and a player with an instantly recognizable style.
Alvarado was reportedly traded to the Knicks minutes earlier.
Chris Haynes
New Orleans Pelicans are trading Jose Alvarado to the New York Knicks, league sources tell me.
Ben Stiller Jumps Into Jose Alvarado Knicks Trade Chatter
Fischer’s post painted a specific picture Knicks fans can immediately visualize: Alvarado (known for his chaotic, relentless defense and hustle plays) diving for a loose ball at MSG and sliding right into Stiller courtside.
Stiller’s response was short, funny, and on brand, leaning into the idea that Knicks basketball is as much theater as it is hoops, especially when Madison Square Garden gets loud.
The key detail here: the exchange is areaction to trade talk, not confirmation of a deal. Still, it highlights how quickly Knicks rumors turn into culture moments, particularly when a potential target fits the identity fans love most, effort, edge, and defense.
What It Could Mean for the Knicks with Alvarado
With the Knicks reportedly acquiring Alvarado, the on-court pitch is simple: energy and disruption.
Alvarado’s calling card is ball pressure, quick hands, and a knack for turning routine possessions into chaos. That kind of guard can change the tone of a second unit, juice up the crowd, and buy stars a few extra possessions with deflections and steals.
From a roster-construction standpoint, a player like Alvarado is usually discussed in one of two ways:
Bench identity piece: a defender who sets a physical tone and keeps the pace up.
Situational weapon: someone you deploy to bother specific ball-handlers and swing momentum.
The “fit” talk becomes even louder in New York because MSG responds to hustle like few arenas do. A diving loose ball, a backcourt pickpocket, a quick-trigger transition bucket, those are instant crowd igniters, and Knicks fans know it.
The Real Story: Knicks Trade Buzz Turns Into a Viral MSG Moment
This is also a reminder of how the Knicks rumor machine works in 2026: one social post can become a full day of conversation because it combines the right ingredients, Knicks fans, a scrappy player archetype, and a celebrity who genuinely watches.
With Alvarado reportedly on the way, and Miles McBride out for the season, another thing to watch is whether any more reputable reporting moves from jokes and hypotheticals to concrete details: team interest, offers, timing around the deadline, or rotation needs that could push the front office to act.With a few hours left in the trade deadline, there’s still plenty more that could happen. Will the Knicks make anymore moves that draw attention from celebrities?