Former Yankees Captain Derek Jeter Receives Huge Ovation at MSG During Knicks-Spurs Game 3

Derek Jeter, the former New York Yankees star, was among the celebrities who attended Game 3 at MSG between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs.

Former Yankees Captain Derek Jeter Receives Huge Ovation at MSG During Knicks-Spurs Game 3

Derek Jeter (Image via Imago/X/@krispursiainen)

The stars were out there on Monday at Madison Square Garden (MSG) as the New York Knicks took on the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals. Among the celebrities who attended the game was former New York Yankees captain Derek Jeter, who received a huge ovation from the fans.

The showdown between the two sides on Monday at the famed MSG in New York marked the first time since 1999 that it hosted an NBA Finals game. Coincidentally, the last time the Knicks played a home game in the Finals, it was against the Spurs.

27 years ago, the Spurs defeated the New York-based side 4-1 to clinch their first NBA title. Since then, they have gone on to win 4 more championships. Meanwhile, the Knicks experienced a major decline and reached the playoffs only 5 times from 2001 to 2022.

The Knicks have been on a tear this season, beating the Atlanta Hawks 4-2, sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers and the Cleveland Cavaliers 4-0. Spurs, on the other hand, defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 4-1, knocked out the Minnesota Timberwolves in 6 games (4-2) before edging out the 2025 champions, Oklahoma City Thunder, 4-3.

In Game 1, the Knicks won 105-95 before hanging on in Game 2 to win 105-104 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. For Game 3 at the MSG, several marquee names, including U.S. President Donald Trump, showed up.

Among them was Derek Jeter. The 5-time World Series winner was seen entering the building alongside New York Giants legend Eli Manning.

The two New York sporting greats were seen sitting side by side at courtside. Among other celebrities who attended the game were Ben Stiller, Timothee Chalamet, Fat Joe, Spike Lee, Tracy Morgan, Tina Fey, Mariska Hargitay, and Christopher Meloni.

During the game, the giant screen at the MSG played highlights of Jeter’s blistering career with the Yankees. When the camera panned towards “The Captain,” the fans roared in delight.

Jeter spent his entire 20-year career with the Yankees and led the Bronx Bombers to 5 World Series titles and was a 14-time All-Star. Following this retirement, the team retired the No.2 jersey. In 2020, the former MLB shortstop was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame.

Coming back to Game 3, the Knicks were unable to take a 3-0 lead as Victor Wembanyama carried his team to victory. The Spurs star had 32 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists in their 115-111 victory.

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Derek Jeter claims Aaron Judge is “irreplaceable” following 3x MVP’s injury

Last week, the New York Yankees received some grim news regarding their current captain, Aaron Judge. The 3-time American League MVP was diagnosed with a rib fracture and is sidelined for 4-6 weeks. While reacting to this, Derek Jeter claimed that Judge was “irreplaceable” and delivered a reality check to the team.

Aaron Judge and Derek Jeter
Aaron Judge and Derek Jeter (Image via MLB)

According to reports, Judge suffered this injury while diving for the ball against the Houston Astros in late April. However, he kept on playing through some pain.

The effects of this blow were clearly seen. In May, he managed just 1 home run and had 8 RBIs while also going on an 11-game home run drought. In the series against the Athletics in Sacramento, the outfielder was having major discomfort.

After missing the first two games of the series against the Cleveland Guardians, Judge was revealed to have fractured his right rib. While he refused to put a timeline on his return, the Yankees expect him to return at some point later this season.

With him out for a while, the others in the team will have to step up. Over the past few seasons, Judge has led his teammates in almost every offensive category.

Let’s just be honest, Aaron Judge is as irreplaceable as any player in the league. Maybe in baseball. You’re not just gonna have one individual pick up the slack. They’re gonna need contributions from a lot of guys that have underperformed.

Derek Jeter said regarding Aaron Judge on MLB on FOX Sports

The 34-year-old superstar is currently batting with a .248 average with 17 home runs and 38 RBIs. After losing 5-3 against the Boston Red Sox on Friday, the Yanks beat them 6-1 on Sunday and took the Guardians 7-5 in extra innings on Monday. So the team did show up a bit without Judge.

Following this series against the Guardians, they travel to Toronto to take on the Toronto Blue Jays. The Canadian side had their number last year in the regular season and knocked them out of the ALDS. Earlier this season, the two sides earned a split, going 2-2 in the 4-game series.

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