Tracy Morgan, the beloved comedian known for his work on Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock, found himself at the center of a health scare on March 17, 2025, while watching his favorite basketball team, the New York Knicks, take on the Miami Heat at Madison Square Garden. As an avid Knicks fan, the multimillionaire Morgan was sitting courtside, just as he had done countless times before, when the unexpected happened. With 6:09 left in the third quarter, the game came to an abrupt halt. Spectators and broadcasters alike were left wondering what had caused the delay until reports surfaced that Morgan had fallen ill.
Eyewitness accounts and videos captured the troubling moment. The 56-year-old comedian, who was seated next to MSG Network broadcasters Kenny Albert and Walter Clyde Frazier, was seen vomiting onto the court. A concerned man in a black t-shirt and a blue Knicks hat was spotted beside him, visibly alarmed by the situation.
The arena staff quickly sprang into action, bringing in workers to clean up while paramedics attended to Morgan. Photos and footage from social media showed him wiping his face with a towel before being placed into a wheelchair. As he was wheeled off, reports indicated that he was also suffering from a nosebleed and struggling to stand on his own.
Tracy Morgan’s Health Issues: Is the Comedian Sick? Latest Update and Everything We Know
The incident caused a delay of about ten minutes before the game resumed, and the Knicks ultimately secured a 116-95 victory over the Heat. However, the focus of the night had shifted entirely to Morgan’s condition. Fans and fellow celebrities quickly took to social media, expressing their concern.
Knicks forward Josh Hart extended his well wishes in a post-game interview, stating, “First and foremost, obviously we hope everything is good with Tracy Morgan. Avid, lifetime Knick fan, so prayers go out to him and his health and safety.” Others, including actor Ben Stiller and former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III, also shared messages of support on X, formerly Twitter.
While neither Morgan nor his representatives immediately provided an update, his history of serious issues was at the forefront of public concern. The comedian has battled diabetes for years, a condition that led to a kidney transplant in 2010. That alone would have been a major hurdle, but his most well-documented medical crisis came in 2014 when he was involved in a devastating car crash.
A Walmart truck struck Morgan’s limousine on the New Jersey Turnpike, taking the life of his longtime friend and collaborator James McNair. Morgan himself suffered life-threatening injuries, including a broken leg, broken ribs, and a traumatic brain injury that left him in a coma for two weeks. His recovery was grueling, requiring months of rehabilitation to relearn how to walk and speak. Even after his physical healing, he has been open about the lingering effects of the accident, including chronic pain and memory loss.
Despite these setbacks, Morgan has continued to work in the entertainment industry. He starred in the comedy series The Last O.G. from 2018 to 2021 and has been attached to a forthcoming NBC comedy pilot, in which he plays a disgraced former football player trying to rebuild his life. Just last month, he was seen celebrating SNL50: The Anniversary Special on February 16, 2025, at 30 Rockefeller Center. His presence at that event suggested he was doing relatively fine, making his sudden illness at the Knicks game all the more alarming.
Madison Square Garden officials released a brief statement following the incident, saying, “We hope Tracy feels better soon and look forward to seeing him back courtside.” The comedian, a Bronx native, has long been a staple at Knicks games, dating back to his childhood. In past interviews, he has proudly declared, “I’m not a fair-weather fan. I’m with the good, bad, and ugly. I’m always going to be a fan. I’m a New Yorker. I’m a New York fan.”
As of March 18, 2025, there has been no official confirmation regarding the cause of Morgan’s sudden illness. Some have speculated that his diabetes or past health conditions may have played a role, while others suggest it could have been an isolated medical episode. Whatever the case, his fans remain on high alert, awaiting an update on his condition.
Social media remains flooded with messages of support, and many are hoping to see the comedian back in his courtside seat soon, cheering on the Knicks as he always has. For now, the focus remains on his recovery, as the entertainment world and basketball fans alike send their well wishes to Tracy Morgan.
