NBA fans may not have expected to see Jack Harlow sitting courtside at TD Garden on Sunday for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals between the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks.
But apparently the rapper had good reason to be there beyond showing his face on national TV.
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In an interview with NBC Sports Boston's "The Camera Guys," Harlow confirmed he's been a Celtics fan for years.
"Yeah, I grew up a Celtics fan," Harlow said at Sunday's game. "When I was young, when KG (Kevin Garnett) got traded (to Boston), that's when I made my decision, but I've been a Celtics fan my whole life."
Harlow, a Louisville native who has already been nominated for seven Grammys at age 24, was only nine years old when the Celtics famously acquired Garnett in a July 2007 trade. The C's added Ray Allen that same offseason and went on to win the 2008 NBA championship, and it appears Harlow has been hooked on the green ever since.
While the Celtics dropped Game 1 to the Bucks, 101-89, Harlow seemed excited about meeting C's star Jayson Tatum before the game.
"This was actually our first time meeting, which means a lot to me," Harlow said of Tatum.
Harlow's presence Sunday drew plenty of buzz at the Garden, but referee Scott Foster didn't understand what all the fuss was about -- ABC's mics caught Foster asking fellow referee Ed Malloy who Harlow was.
Harlow responded to the viral moment with a funny tweet referencing his resemblance to Mr. Tumnus in the "Chronicles of Narnia" movies.
If Harlow wants to attend any more Celtics playoff games, he may need the C's to win Tuesday's Game 2 to even the series heading into Milwaukee.
