Sydney Sweeney graces NBA Celeb Row for Nets-Knicks at Barclays Center

Sydney Sweeney, the 27-year-old actress most recognized for her role in the HBO drama series Euphoria, made a surprise appearance at Barclays Center for the Nets-Knicks rivalry Tuesday.

Sweeney's attendance in Brooklyn was swiftly shared with millions across the NBA's social media channels, eclipsing three million views on Instagram and one million views on X in roughly two hours. Known to Euphoria (2019-present) fans as Cassie Howard, a part that earned her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, Sweeney's widespread popularity only continues to grow worldwide.

Not without the help of her standout performance as Olivia Mossbacher in The White Lotus (2021), which also warranted a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, Sweeney reached pop culture superstardom and hasn't looked back since while expanding a social media presence that includes nearly 23.5 million followers on Instagram. That's over 14 million more than the Nets (4.7M) and Knicks (4.2M) combined, and engagement on the NBA's posts shows they're quite active. 

Other notable film roles for Sweeney include Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019), The Voyeurs (2021), Anyone But You (2023), Reality (2023), Eden (2024), Madame Web (2024) and Immaculate (2024), among multiple more.

Top comments: Sweeney in Brooklyn 

@thebrienwalker: "I'd have a stat line that would get me drug tested at halftime if she showed up to my game."

@easymoneyassaultrifle: "I'm dropping 87 points, 36 rebounds, no assists."

@madehoops: "Ben Simmons legacy game I'm already knowing."

@iamconnorprintz: "Knicks are so lucky Cam Thomas isn't playing."

Honorable mention? All “me with Sydney Sweeney at the game” gifs

Nets-Knicks NBA Celeb Row

Stars were shining bright in Brooklyn beyond just Sweeney, though.

Four-time MLB All-Star José Reyes, who spent 12 years of his professional baseball career as a member of the New York Mets, received a warm welcome from Nets World when he was shown courtside, too.

Through 1,365 games with New York, the legendary Mets shortstop posted 1,534 hits, 108 home runs, 521 RBIs and 408 stolen bases (franchise high) on a 0.282 batting average. No. 7 is the franchise’s all-time leader in lead-off home runs (19) and triples (112) as well, meanwhile holding single-season records for stolen bases (78), at-bats (696) and plate appearances (765). In addition to his two stints with the Mets, the latter ending with his career in 2018, Reyes also spent time with the Marlins, Rockies and Blue Rays.

Largely in part due to his overwhelming speed and energy, Reyes will always be remembered as a massive fan favorite and one of the most exciting players ever to don a Mets uniform.