Ben Stiller Says Knicks Documentary Will Explore Team History and Fan Community

Ben Stiller says his forthcoming documentary about the New York Knicks will examine both the franchise’s history and its relationship with the city, with the team’s championship earlier this year raising expectations for the project. The lifelong Knicks supporter is directing the multipart documentary, which was announced shortly after the title win.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at Wednesday night’s New York premiere of Focker-in-Law, his next film, Stiller said the documentary would include the current team while looking more broadly at what the Knicks have meant to New York. Focker-in-Law is scheduled for a Thanksgiving release.

The Knicks secured their first NBA championship since 1973 on June 13. The documentary will trace the team’s arc from the 1990s through its record-breaking championship run in 2026. Stiller said he had enjoyed working on it, but recognized that the intensity of supporters’ attachment to the franchise brings considerable expectations. “The pressure is on,” he told the outlet, expressing hope that the finished project would meet fans’ wishes.

Stiller described production as still being in its early stages following the playoffs, while indicating that work was moving ahead. He did not provide a release date. His comments offered an update on a project that had attracted speculation before its announcement, after he was seen filming during the Knicks’ appearance in the 2026 NBA Finals.

The filmmaker’s connection to the team stretches back to his childhood in the early 1970s. Born and raised in New York City, Stiller has remained a devoted supporter and is frequently seen courtside. Other celebrity fans who attend games include Timothée Chalamet, Spike Lee, Tracy Morgan and Tina Fey.

Asked whether those supporters, particularly Chalamet, would appear, Stiller said the documentary would feature both famous and lesser-known Knicks fans. He emphasized the strength of the community across New York and its importance to the experience of supporting the team, without specifically confirming Chalamet’s participation.

Stiller’s own reaction to the championship run was captured after Game 5 of the NBA Finals, when he told cameras he was “as happy as I’ve ever felt.” The Severance executive producer’s enthusiasm also surfaced at Wednesday’s premiere, where he joked that he would check the Knicks’ score after his interviews and periodically during the screening.

That evening’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers ended in a 115-107 Knicks defeat. Stiller subsequently responded on X with a brief question: “What happened.”