Jalen Brunson-Mariska Hargitay connection explained: Knicks and Law & Order fans unite
Show Caption
Hide Caption
NBA Finals predictions: Are the Thunder and Knicks locks for the NBA Finals?
The For The Hoops crew make their picks for the NBA Finals. The Thunder vs. Knicks seem to be a popular pick, but are we counting the Timberwolves and Pacers out too early?
Madison Square Garden's coveted Celebrity Row would normally leave anyone starstruck, offering up plenty of A-list sightings from Spike Lee to Ben Stiller, Tracy Morgan, Kylie Jenner, Bad Bunny and Timothee Chalamet. But New York Knicks superstar Jalen Brunson has only been left awestruck by one celebrity.
That person is (don-don) Mariska Hargitay, longtime star of the hit TV show 'Law & Order: SVU."
"I've never been like super, super starstruck. I saw her and I was like, 'Oh, (wow),'" Brunson said during a May 4 episode of his 'The Roommates Show' podcast, which he hosts alongside teammate Josh Hart. "Then, the first time we met, it was awesome, we talked and everything."
A friendship between Brunson and Hargitay has been brewing since he donned royal blue and orange. The two shared a hug after the Knicks' 108-102 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 11, which Hart called a rarity. ("I've seen you not hug your wife after some losses," Hart joked.) In February, Hargitay announced Brunson's All-Star selection with a special video, where she congratulated "one captain to another." (Hargitay has played Olivia Benson, captain of the NYPD's Special Victims Unit, since 1999.)
"That's my favorite person ever," Brunson exclaimed after watching the video.
Why is Hargitay Brunson's favorite? What's behind the Brunson-Hargitay connection? We got you covered.
KNICKS-PACERS: 8 best (and infamous) moments of rivalry
Jalen Brunson grew up watching 'Law & Order: SVU'
Brunson's fandom dates back to his early days of watching TV with his father Rick Brunson, a former NBA player who serves as an assistant coach for the Knicks. Jalen Brunson recalled his dad used to blast the volume in the house.
'I remember my dad always watching the show and you just hear the iconic (theme song) 'don-don' all the time,' Brunson said. 'I always found myself watching the show. Honestly the older I got, the more I watched, the more I see now I'm like, 'I've seen that episode,' I've seen so many different episodes.'
Brunson said he incorporates "Law & Order: SVU" into his pregame ritual, especially during his time with the Dallas Mavericks (2018–2022) when his schedule permitted.
"At one point when I got into the league, I wanted to restart. So I started from Season 1 and watched all the way through," Brunson said. "It's like a pregame show for me. I watched it, before I took my nap. That's when I was in Dallas. ... I've always loved that show."
Mariska Hargitay is Jalen Brunson's 'favorite'
Brunson and Hargitay have shared numerous courtside interactions since he joined the Knicks in 2022. Most recently, Hargitay attended the Knicks' 115-93 Game 3 loss to the Boston Celtics. (The Kicks went on to win the series, 4-2.) Brunson has repeatedly said she's the celebrity he's "most excited to see sitting courtside at (Madison Square Garden)." When asked which non-basketball related guest he would love to have featured on the podcast in April, Brunson responded without hesitation, "Mariska Hargitay."
The feeling is mutual. During a sitdown with Interview Magazine in September, Hargitay recalled meeting Brunson at a Knicks game, admitting that's the last time her kids thought she was cool.
"(My son) August and I were at a Knicks game, and after the game, Jalen Brunson beelined over to talk to me," Hargitay said. "The next time we went, we were going into the game and Jalen wanted to meet with me, and he gave me a jersey and signed it, and then he recently, I think in People, said that I was his favorite."
Ben Stiller, other Knicks fans jealous of Mariska Hargitay
Brunson's love of Hargitay has drawn the playful ire of other celebrity Knicks fans.
Actor Ben Stiller, a Knicks superfan who frequents games at Madison Square Garden, was a guest on "The Roommates Show" podcast in early May and said 'the love that Mariska Hargitay gets from (Brunson) postgame is the envy of every other Knicks fan, Knicks celebrity fan." Brunson said the frequency in which he sees Hargitay in comparison to Stiller adds to it. 'I expect to see (Stiller) there all the time, but this is her first or second game this year. So I'm not going to see her for a long time, so I'm just going to say hi and go,' Brunson said."I guess I got to come to less games," Stiller responded, while Hart added, "Make him appreciate you more."
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox Sports
a minute ago
- Fox Sports
Brewers Activate All-Star Rookie Pitcher Jacob Misiorowski Before Reds Series
Major League Baseball Brewers Activate All-Star Rookie Pitcher Jacob Misiorowski Before Reds Series Published Aug. 15, 2025 3:44 p.m. ET share facebook x reddit link Milwaukee Brewers rookie pitcher Jacob Misiorowski has been activated from the injured list after missing about 2½ weeks with a left tibia contusion. The move potentially clears the way for the All-Star right-hander to pitch in the NL Central-leading Brewers' series opener Friday at Cincinnati as they attempt to earn a 13th straight victory, which would match the longest winning streak in franchise history. The Brewers won their first 13 games in 1987. Misiorowski last pitched on July 28 in an 8-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs. Misiorowski's knee appeared to buckle in the first inning that night as he fielded a dribbler and threw wildly to first base, though he remained in the game and ended up lasting four innings. He owns a 4-1 record and 2.70 ERA in seven starts. Misiorowski has struck out 47 batters over 33.1 innings. In other moves Friday, the Brewers optioned right-handed pitcher Grant Anderson to Triple-A Nashville, placed outfielder Blake Perkins on the bereavement list, put outfielder Isaac Collins on the paternity list and recalled infielder Tyler Black and outfielder Steward Berroa from Nashville. Anderson, 28, was 2-3 with a 3.07 ERA in 53 relief appearances with Milwaukee. The Brewers and Reds last faced off on June 4 in Cincinnati, with Milwaukee winning, 9-1. The Brewers are 42-15 since and have built up an eight-game lead over the Cubs in the NL Central, but the Reds aren't that far behind: in the same stretch, Cincinnati has gone 34-25, and improved from under .500 to half-a-game behind the Mets for the NL's third wild card. ADVERTISEMENT The Associated Press contributed to this report. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience Milwaukee Brewers Cincinnati Reds Major League Baseball What did you think of this story? share
USA Today
a minute ago
- USA Today
Buccaneers' Mike Evans dominates against Jalen Ramsey in joint practice
Mike Evans didn't need a full game to make his presence felt in just one joint practice. During Thursday's highly anticipated session between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pittsburgh Steelers, the future Hall of Fame receiver reminded everyone exactly who he is. Evans was dominant from the first rep, torching Pittsburgh's defensive backs in red-zone drills, one-on-ones, and team periods. According to multiple reports, Evans looked flat-out unguardable, even against elite competition. The signature moment of the day came during a "seven shots" red-zone drill, where Evans lined up across from All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey. What followed was vintage Mike Evans: a precision release, physical leverage, and a leaping touchdown grab in the back corner of the end zone. Ramsey, known for his lockdown skills, had no wasn't done. Throughout the drill, he continued to win with ease, using a combination of size, route savvy, and body control that few defenders can match. Whether it was a fade, a quick out, or a post, the result was the same: Evans was open, and the ball was his. Now entering his 12th NFL season, Evans shows no signs of decline. The Buccaneers may be developing young receivers around him, but the standard remains unchanged: Evans is WR1, and still one of the most feared red-zone targets in football. At 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, his physical traits remain elite. But it's his experience that separates him in joint practices like these. For all the offseason talk about Tampa Bay's youth movement and new offensive wrinkles, Thursday's joint practice sent a clear message: as long as Mike Evans is on the field, the Buccaneers have a mismatch nightmare at their disposal. It may have been just practice, but it felt like a statement.
Boston Globe
31 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
Isabel Brozena wins Massachusetts Women's Amateur, 2 up, over top-seeded Shannon Johnson
It was an intrepid move. But it won her the match. Brozena's aggressive play paid dividends down the stretch, as she defeated top-seeded Shannon Johnson, 2 up, to win the 122nd Massachusetts Women's Amateur Championship at Concord Country Club on Friday. The victory marked Brozena's first in the Women's Amateur after her title in the 2024 Girls' Junior Amateur. Advertisement The 19-year-old, a member at Indian Ridge Country Club, enjoyed a successful freshman season at Xavier, where she was an All-Big East selection. Brozena won the 2022 and 2024 individual MIAA girls' championships while at North Reading. With the win, she qualified for the 2026 US Women's Amateur in Ooltewah, Tenn. Johnson found trouble off the tee on 18, landing behind the lone tree along the fairway. Her lie precluded her from making a run at the green, despite her being down one hole. She laid up with a hybrid, which helped spur Brozena into attempting the challenging fairway bunker shot. 'I just knew I hit it good when I hit it,' said Brozena, who was seeded third in match play. Advertisement Brozena, who never trailed, regained her lead on 16. She hammered a drive north of 280 yards, sailing a large undulating fairway. From 156 yards, she hit 9-iron within a putter's length for eagle. Upon striking her approach shot, she talked to the ball. She skipped nearly 20 yards, following the ball and remarking, 'Be the number, be the number. Come on baby!' 'I knew that I had to hit it pretty good and I just went right at it because I figured that I've got to make something happen here,' said Brozena. 'With the way she was putting, she was probably going to make birdie. When I saw it, I just knew it was close.' When Brozena converted the short eagle putt, she erupted with a loud 'Yes!' and a fist pump. 'I know that she's going to hit it a long way,' said Johnson. 'On 16, I know that she was probably going to get it up on top of that hill. That's unfortunate for me, because that's a much tougher shot than what she had in. If you've got that length, you've got to utilize it and take advantage of it. I know that I can methodically plod around and have attempts at birdies, knowing that she's going to be a little closer than me.' Brozena's monstrous drives allowed her to hunt pins. The length of her drives outmuscled the 6,030-yard course. Rather than pulling out a 6-iron, she go with 9-iron. She hit 8 of 14 fairways, 13 of 18 greens, and finished with five one-putts. She three-putted just once. 'Especially on this course, distance can be really big,' said Brozena. 'You need to hit your approach shots close, but having shorter clubs in means everything on these greens. I took pretty aggressive lines, hit driver pretty much everywhere.' Advertisement Brozena enjoyed an early lead, winning the first two holes, before taking a three-up advantage through seven holes. Brozena sunk a left-to-right birdie putt from 8 feet on No. 9, putting the pressure on Johnson to match her on the 140-yard par-3. Johnson stepped up and sank it, avoiding falling four down and giving her confidence at the turn. On the back nine, Johnson surged. Her cerebral approach put her back in contention. She won Nos. 10 and 11, before sinking a birdie putt from a flagstick's length on the 141-yard, par-3 15th. Brozena hit the gas on the final three holes, pulling away with the two memorable shots. Post-match, Brozena shared a hug with her father greenside. As her caddie, Lee had a front-row seat to watch his daughter live out her dreams. 'Watching her grow up and play, it's just amazing,' he said. 'The progression she's made and to win something like this, it's great for her, seeing her meet her goals. It's fantastic.' Cam Kerry can be reached at
