Jennifer Hudson Reacts to Getting Hit By a Basketball & Shares Knicks Player’s Sweet Apology
Written by djfrosty on March 13, 2025
She’s fine, people. Jennifer Hudson just broke down what really happened at the New York Knicks game where she got smacked by a rogue basketball, from the moment it happened to the aftermath.
“First of all, I wanna say: I’m OK!” the talk-show host began on The Jennifer Hudson Show Thursday (March 13).
“It happened so quick,” Hudson continued, laughing incredulously. “I’m like, ‘What the hell done popped me? Someone must’ve hit me. Of all the people to hit, you hit Jennifer Hudson. Really?’”
The episode comes more than a week after the vocalist went viral over the mishap at the March 4 Knicks vs. Golden State Warriors game, where she was sitting courtside and chatting with partner Common when suddenly, a rogue ball came out of nowhere and smacked her in the head. Player Miles McBride then came crashing into her, after which the point guard and a ref checked to see if Hudson was all right as she sat there, stunned.
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“So the ball did actually hit me,” Hudson recounted. “All of a sudden, there’s people standing over me, like, ‘You OK?’ I’m like, ‘Let me just come to for a second. Let me just gather my thoughts.’ The poor basketball player, he wanted to end the whole game.”
“My sweet love was like, ‘OK, you all right? Would you like to leave?’” she continued, referring to Common. “And I’m like, ‘I’m good, just let me sit here and gather myself. ‘Cause the last thing you wanna do is get up and go running somewhere.’ No, you need a moment.”
Hudson also added that she was better prepared for the blow than most because she’s “a boy mom.” “What that means is, I have been on the basketball court many a days playing with these children, so they trained momma well to be able to take the game,” said the Dreamgirls actress, who shares son Daniel with ex David Otunga. “I was ready.”
Though Hudson assured the crowd that she’s OK numerous times, one person was still concerned: McBride. In fact, the point guard ended up sending the American Idol alum a bouquet of flowers and an apology video, which she played for her audience.
“Just wanted to say I’m sorry for running into you at our game last week,” McBride said in the clip. “I was in the zone trying to make a play, trying to bring some energy, and unfortunately, you were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Just saying I’m sorry, got you a little something — hope we can be cool after this.”
Hudson ended the segment by sharing what lesson she’s learned and plans on applying next time she sits courtside: “Bring a helmet.”
Watch Hudson talk about getting hit in the head with a basketball above.