New York Knicks Star Jalen Brunson Reveals the Celebrity He Gets Starstruck By
In a recent interview on his podcast, The Roommates Show, New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson confessed that despite being surrounded by celebrities at Madison Square Garden’s Celebrity Row, he only gets starstruck by one person: Mariska Hargitay, the star of Law & Order: SVU. According to a report by the Hindustan Times, Brunson’s admiration for Hargitay is evident, and it’s all thanks to his upbringing and love for the popular TV show.
Brunson, who co-hosts the podcast with teammate Josh Hart, revealed that he was floored when he met Hargitay, saying, "I’ve never been like super, super starstruck. I saw her and I was like, ‘Oh, (wow),’". The two have since met on multiple occasions, with Hargitay even celebrating Brunson’s All-Star selection in February with a heartfelt video message: "One captain to another." Brunson was clearly touched by the gesture, gushing, "That’s my favourite person ever."
The Hindustan Times reports that Brunson’s love for Law & Order: SVU dates back to his childhood, with the show being a staple in his household. "I remember my dad always watching the show and you just hear the iconic (theme song) ‘don-don’ all the time," Brunson recalled, referring to his father, Rick Brunson, a former NBA player and current Knicks assistant coach. Brunson’s admiration for the show only grew stronger as he got older, with the NBA star revealing that he even re-watched the entire series from season one during his early days in Dallas.
In a September interview with Interview Magazine, Hargitay herself mentioned Brunson’s admiration, saying, "(My son) August and I were at a Knicks game, and after the game, Jalen Brunson beelined over to talk to me." The two have since developed a close relationship, with Brunson even presenting Hargitay with a jersey and signing it. Hargitay noted that Brunson recently mentioned in People that she was his favourite, a sentiment that has been echoed by fans and fellow celebrities alike.
The Hindustan Times notes that even fellow Knicks superfans like Ben Stiller have taken notice of Brunson’s love for Hargitay, with Stiller joking on a podcast, "The love that Mariska Hargitay gets from (Brunson) postgame is the envy of every other Knicks celebrity fan." Brunson laughed off the comment, saying, "I expect to see (Stiller) there all the time, but this is her first or second game this year… I’m just going to say hi and go." Stiller quipped, "I guess I got to come to less games," prompting Hargitay to chime in, "Make him appreciate you more."
As per the Hindustan Times report, it’s clear that Jalen Brunson’s admiration for Mariska Hargitay is genuine and unwavering. With their mutual respect and admiration for each other growing, it will be interesting to see how their relationship evolves in the future. One thing is certain, however: Brunson will continue to be a huge fan of Hargitay and Law & Order: SVU, a show that has clearly had a lasting impact on his life.
The article was originally reported by Hindustan Times.
