The Stars Come Out at Night

To be sure, scores of entertainers attend NBA games because they are fans. Penny Marshall, Dustin Hoffman, Leonardo DiCaprio, Denzel Washington, Dyan Cannon, Sylvester Stallone, Meg Ryan and, of course, Jack Nicholson regularly attend Lakers games. Film director Spike Lee, news anchor Tom Brokaw and rapper Jay-Z are fixtures at Madison Square Garden, home of the New York Knicks. Singer Jimmy Buffett loves the Miami Heat and was even ejected for cursing the referees during a 2001 game with the Knicks.

Detroit has its supporters, too. Actress Renee Zellweger attended Game 3 of the finals in Auburn Hills, accompanied by Jack White of the Detroit band White Stripes. Also sitting behind the Lakers' bench that night was rap star Eminem and D12 rapper Proof.

Some celebrities deny that there are those within their ranks who would attend an NBA game to further their careers.

"We're all just happy to have a winning team in town," said actress and professed Lakers backer Christina Applegate, who starred in the 1990s TV show "Married . . . With Children." "I spit on anyone who comes to Lakers games to be seen."

Watching the Lakers run through their warm-up drills before Game 1 last week, Applegate marveled: "Look at them. They are all so darn cool. They all have got their tattoos and their earrings and, you know, they're fabulous."

Nonetheless, publicists have been known to call the Lakers' front office to persuade the team to make sure their client's visage goes up on the video scoreboard and on television, according to Lakers spokesman John Black.

Relatively few stars own season tickets. A great many receive tickets from studios, TV networks, management companies, entertainment lawyers and agents, Black said.

Before Game 1 at Staples Center, Stallone gleefully showed off a present given to him by O'Neal. It was a ring, and among the myriad diamonds were inscribed the words "Lakers" and "World Champions." It is one of three NBA championship rings O'Neal has earned as a member of the Lakers.

"Shaquille and I have a very private deal," the actor explained. "I owe him a favor."

Stallone was among the sizeable contingent of Hollywood stars on hand, which included Ryan, Hoffman, Matthew Perry and Vivica A. Fox.

"There's no question that [NBA games are] a place to be seen," Stallone said. "You're in an atmosphere where it's entertaining but also it's a way to be seen, too, at the same time without having to do interviews if you don't want to."