Ionescu, Plum reflect on Spike Lee being courtside at Aces-Liberty

NEW YORK -- Sabrina Ionescu's relationship with Spike Lee goes back to when she was drafted by the New York Liberty.

The basketball superfan was one of the first people to welcome her to New York when the Liberty took her No. 1 in 2020.

"He was the first person who called me and shared the excitement with New York getting the No. 1 pick," Ionescu said after scoring 21 points in an 87-77 win over the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday. "Every time I've seen him we've had small talk and I said he's got to come out to a game. To be able to see him here cheering us on loud, over there chirping at the refs and talking to the players."

Lee has been a fixture at New York Knicks games over the years and has routinely trash-talked opposing players, famously Indiana Pacers star Reggie Miller. Lee was sitting courtside at Barclays Center on Sunday wearing an Ionescu jersey.

This time, Aces guard Kelsey Plum was the object of his good-natured trash talk.

"I can't say exactly what was said, but I told him that he should talk louder," Plum said smiling after the game. "But it was all well and fun and really cool that he's here, even last round was really cool. I know he's a big sports fan."

This was the second straight Liberty playoff game Lee has attended. He was also at the opening-round clincher over the Atlanta Dream. At the first game he gave Ionescu a high-five in the third quarter that she said felt like "New York was injected into my veins."

Lee was part of the sellout crowd of 14,015 that also included Liberty fans Jason Sudeikis and Tracy Morgan.