Basketball usually isn’t considered a high-risk sport for spectators. Unlike baseball, where foul balls regularly fly into the stands, most NBA fans can relax, knowing they’re safe from unexpected flying objects. However, courtside seats introduce a unique element of risk, as players can sometimes end up dangerously close to the crowd—especially when diving for loose balls or stumbling out of bounds.
At Madison Square Garden, where the celebrity presence is always high, it’s not unusual to see famous faces courtside. On Wednesday night, actress Anne Hathaway found herself seated behind the scorer’s table during the New York Knicks’ game against the Chicago Bulls. What she didn’t expect, however, was that a Knicks player would come very close to tumbling into her lap.
In the first quarter, Knicks forward OG Anunoby tipped a pass out of bounds and, determined to keep the play alive, chased the ball toward the scorer’s table. In the process, he leaped onto it, nearly crashing into Hathaway, who was seated directly behind.
Fortunately, Anunoby managed to stop himself just in time, avoiding a collision. The only casualty was a container (possibly filled with fries?) that toppled off the table as Anunoby regained his balance, leaving Hathaway with a bit of cleaning up to do. But given the near-miss, it was a small price to pay for avoiding a 6-foot-7, 240-pound player landing in her lap!
