What Spike Lee told Michael Jordan over a phone call after Knicks won NBA Championship

Spike Lee had waited decades to see the New York Knicks win another NBA Championship, so his celebration was always going to reach beyond a normal courtside reaction.

The Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5, sealed the series 4-1, and ended a title drought that stretched back to 1973.

For Lee, the win carried the joy of a lifelong fan and the history of someone who had watched New York fall short through several painful eras.

That made one post-title phone call feel especially fitting, because Lee chose to celebrate by turning back toward an old Knicks villain with a smile.

Spike Lee tells Michael Jordan New York Knicks are world champions

In a clip shared by Legion Hoops on X, Lee was shown leaving Jordan a message after the Knicks finally became NBA champions again.

“We haven’t talked in a minute. The New York Knicks are world champions. Call me back! Orange and blue skies! Wassup Mike!” Lee said.

The message worked because it sounded playful, but it also carried decades of Knicks history. Jordan’s Bulls repeatedly stood in New York’s way during the 1990s, turning him into one of the great symbols of what the Knicks could not overcome.

Lee was there for much of that pain, often courtside at Madison Square Garden as Jordan answered Knicks pressure with performances that became part of NBA history.

Spike Lee and Michael Jordan’s rivalry made New York Knicks title call land

Lee and Jordan were never just a fan and a rival player, which gave the voicemail a cultural layer beyond a simple championship joke.

Their connection goes back to the Mars Blackmon and Air Jordan commercials, where Lee’s character from She’s Gotta Have It became part of Jordan Brand’s rise. At the same time, Lee’s Knicks loyalty made every Bulls visit to Madison Square Garden feel more personal.

Jordan’s 55-point game at the Garden in 1995 remains one of the sharpest reminders of that era. It was a night that deepened his hold over New York’s basketball memory and added to the back-and-forth with Lee in the front row.

The Knicks’ 2026 title did not rewrite those battles, but it finally gave Lee a championship line to send back. “Orange and blue skies” was his way of telling Jordan that, for once, New York had the last word.

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