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There are few New Yorkers more beloved right now than Jalen Brunson and Mariska
Hargitay — and few franchises more woven into the fabric of modern New York culture than the Knicks and “Law & Order: SVU.”
So when I came across a T-shirt that somehow managed to combine all four — Brunson, Hargitay, the Knicks and “SVU” — I knew I had to have it. The black tee features cutout images of Brunson and Hargitay standing side by side, hands on their hips, in a clear nod to the stoic promo shots long associated with the NBC procedural. Underneath, “Benson & Brunson” — a reference to Hargitay’s longtime character Olivia Benson — appears in the show’s signature title-card style, outlined in Knicks orange and blue.
Benson & Brunson T-Shirt
Hargitay and Brunson have formed an endearing friendship over the years, which was brought to center stage as the actor cheered him and the rest of the Knicks team on courtside for several games during the Finals – including their Championship win. She even ran from her Broadway show to MSG to catch Game 4, where she celebrated the team’s turnaround win alongside Taylor Swift.
“I want everyone to throw out every book on leadership they have and replace it with a photo of Jalen,” Hargitay told Variety afterwards.“We have so much to learn from his brand of strength. And it’s not just his own strength, his whole family’s heart beats inside him when he plays.”
Brunson has returned the adoration. When asked what’s next for him after Saturday’s win, he only had five words: “Try to go to ‘SVU.'”
The “SVU”-themed Knicks shirt is one of many innovative twists on merch that retailers have churned out this week. Etsy now boasts dozens of copycat versions of Taylor Swift’s viral “Stevie Knicks” t-shirt(also worn by Hargitay during Game 4), while Knicks-adjacent scenes from shows such as “Seinfeld”and “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days”are now printed on apparel.
Check out the best Knicks merch here, and buy the “Benson & Brunson” tee here.
