IT'S SO HARD TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE bouncing ball these days, what with the NBA's celeb-studded sidelines. Witness the courtside commotion at Madison Square Garden, where paparazzi snap temporary residents Madonna, JFK Jr., Jerry Seinfeld and Cindy Crawford with hubby Richard Gere "I come as often as I can," said Kennedy—usually with fan-companion Daryl Hannah—at the Knicks' May I playoff game versus the New Jersey Nets. "It's not rocket science, I just really enjoy it." Two nights before, front-row regular Spike Lee wasn't nearly as casual when officials ejected center Patrick Ewing. "Hey! That was a terrible call!" he yelled, as fellow Garden groupie Billy Baldwin also chimed in.

Hoops, though, aren't hip only in New York City. Madonna has arena-hopped to see the Miami Heat (rumors have linked her to starters center Rony Siekaly and guard Brian Shaw), while a well-tressed Brooke Shields and Andre Agassi went one-on-one in Atlanta to check out the Hawks. Though the sidelines may look like a hot night at Spago, nobody's looking to make a deal. "No way am I here to do business," said Lee. "Nothing other than my pleasure of basketball brings me here."