In a lively and wide-ranging interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, legendary film director Spike Lee offered viewers a candid look into his life, his career, and the fascinating stories that have shaped his journey. The conversation, which touched on everything from his family to his beloved New York Knicks, revealed a man deeply connected to his roots and passionate about his work.
The interview began with a tribute to Lee’s late father, Bill Lee, a renowned musician who played bass with icons like Bob Dylan and Judy Collins. Spike Lee fondly recalled his father’s "purist folk artist" sensibilities, sharing a humorous anecdote about how Bill Lee refused to play electric bass when Bob Dylan went electric. Despite this musical divergence, Bill Lee would go on to compose the scores for many of his son’s most iconic films, including She’s Gotta Have It, School Daze, and Do the Right Thing, cementing a powerful creative legacy.
The conversation then shifted to Lee’s other great passion: the New York Knicks. As a well-known fixture at Knicks games, it was revealed that Spike Lee was even inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a fan. He shared a personal story of how he secured his coveted courtside seats, starting with regular tickets and, after the Knicks drafted Patrick Ewing, waiting "in line overnight to get season tickets and gradually moved closer to the court each year." He also recounted the electrifying experience of being at the legendary Willis Reed game seven of the 1970 NBA finals, describing the "deafening noise when Reed limped onto the court," a moment that remains etched in sports history.
Lee entertained the audience with a series of personal stories involving celebrities. He confirmed the story of asking Prince for a guitar at an NBA All-Star game and a year later, a large guitar case was delivered to him. He also humorously recalled celebrating a Yankees championship in the locker room and being denied a request for Derek Jeter's glove. Lee also took a moment to clarify a persistent rumor, explaining that Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan did not finance his film Malcolm X. Instead, they gave him gifts that helped him finish the project after the studio stopped production, allowing him to raise the necessary funds from wealthy Black individuals in a powerful act of self-determination.
The interview culminated in a discussion of Lee's new film, High and Low. The movie, which stars Denzel Washington and A$AP Rocky, is a reinterpretation of the Akira Kurosawa classic. Lee expressed immense admiration for A$AP Rocky noting that he held his own against Denzel Washington, whom Lee considers one of the greatest living actors. This film is especially significant as it reunites Lee and Washington after an 18-year hiatus. The interview concludes with a clip from the film and an announcement of its release dates, in theaters on August 15th and on Apple TV+ on September 5th.
