Jalen Brunson Remembers His First Meeting with Knicks Superfan Ben Stiller: ‘In Awe’ of the Experience.Giang

Talent respects talent.

Jalen Brunson caught up with PEOPLE on the red carpet at Fanatics Fest in New York City on Friday, Aug. 16 moments after sharing the stage with New York Knicks superfan Ben Stiller for their panel that covered a variety of topics including team lore and celebrity-sports culture.

During the exclusive interview, Brunson reminisced about the first time he ever met Stiller and recalled the emotions he felt in that moment. “My first interaction was at a Knicks game and he was talking about just how much of a Knicks fan he was,” the NBA star tells PEOPLE.

“And I was just like, in awe. That was it,” Brunson, 27, admits.

In the early 1970s, Stiller — a New York native — began following the Knicks, witnessed their championship run and solidified himself as a die-hard fan ever since. When he’s not acting, filmmaking or directing new episodes of Severance, he’s famously live-tweeting the games or sitting courtside in support.

Meanwhile, Brunson — who’s been with the Knicks since 2022 and was recently selected as the 36th captain in franchise history (the first Knicks captain since Lance Thomas in the 2018-19 season) — recognizes Stiller’s appreciation for his team and reciprocates the actor’s respect.

When asked what it was like to now join Stiller on the Fanatics Fest panel — titled “Bing Bong: The Iconic New York Knicks” — years after their first time meeting, the sixth-year point guard was ecstatic. “Amazing. It was awesome,” he tells PEOPLE with a smile.

Brunson and Stiller were joined in their conversation by Knicks franchise legend and Hall of Fame point guard Walt “Clyde” Frazier, Knicks shooting guard Josh Hart and Academy Award-winning director Spike Lee — who also doubles as a loyal superfan of the NYC team.

The Knicks captain, in fact, was introduced in a grand way when Fanatics announcer Kazeem Famuyide drew Stiller, Hart and the hundreds of fans who filled the theater at the Javits Center to their feet to honor the team leader.

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“For the first time officially, everybody stand up and salute your captain of the New York Knicks, Jalen Brunson!” Famuyide said as the crowd applauded and cheered. Stiller and Hart, too, proudly stood up and gestured towards Brunson.

Since joining the Knicks in 2022, Brunson — a Villanova alum — has led to the NYC team to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs in both his seasons since his move from the Dallas Mavericks.

Brunson averaged 28.7 points last season, earning his first All-Star nod and finishing fifth in voting for the NBA MVP award, per the NBA. Knicks President Leon Rose called him a “natural born leader,” a trait that led to the honor of being named captain.