Courtside seats for Knicks games aren’t just a celebrity perk for Steve Schirripa, who played Bobby Baccalieri on The Sopranos; they’re a return to the center of the action. Having played competitively at Brooklyn College (“75 pounds ago,” he says), Schirripa really got his game on when he moved to Las Vegas after graduation. There he played pickup with members of the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels—most notably, current Kings head coach Reggie Theus.
With The Sopranos now over, Schirripa is busy with multiple projects, including executive producing a movie for Nickelodeon based on his book Nicky Deuce: Welcome to the Family. He co-hosts a show for Spike, Casino Cinema, and is doing a new series for Life School Network on Demand about Italian-American cooking and chefs. He also recently shot a pilot for the MSG Network called Steve Schirripa’s New York, a mix of Big Apple sports and entertainment through his eyes.

What is it you loved about playing basketball?
There was a time in my life that I would rather play basketball than do anything else. I would keep a date waiting for two hours as I played. I played seven days a week. There was a time I was playing in five different summer leagues in New York City. Played on West 4th, played in Bed Stuy, played up in Harlem.

You’ve enjoyed success in your professional career that allows you to go to lots of professional games. Was getting courtside seats a measure of success?
I grew up very poor and I remember scraping up the $6 apiece with a student ID and going to the Garden on a Saturday night on a date, sitting way up in the tippy-top blue seats. I loved going and I would go quite a bit. Once I came to The Sopranos, the Knicks invited me. Once you sit down on the court, you don’t want to sit anywhere else. I told my wife, “I remember 30 years ago sitting up there, and now we’re part of the game.” It’s incredible.

What is it like when you get to do that?
There are certain things you do as an actor that you don’t really want to do. When it comes to going to Knicks games or Yankees games, that’s something I want to do. Whether they’re winning or they’re losing, going to games is something I truly enjoy. When the Knicks were trying to lure Larry Brown, they asked if we would [film] a little tape, because he’s a big Sopranos fan. So they came to the set and James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Stevie van Zandt and myself, in character, tried to lure Larry here. It was very funny.

Are your daughters into basketball?
My older daughter (15 years old) plays JV basketball. The little one (11) is more of a softball player. They...come to quite a bit of Knicks games. To me, a perfect night out is a cold winter night, going to a Knicks game with my wife and kids. We get something to eat. The Knicks win. It’s a perfect night for me.

Do you find yourself analyzing the action because you know a lot about the game?
When I watch a game, I watch different stuff than probably most people. I’m watching as a player. I don’t always watch the ball. I’m watching guys playing defense. As much as I root for the Knicks, sometimes I appreciate just a good game and good plays, even if it’s by the other team. You’ve got to appreciate these guys. They’re so big, they’re so strong, it’s incredible the way they move.

Do you still play?
I have a regulation halfcourt in my backyard in Las Vegas. So when we go there, I’ll shoot around with my daughter. I played in a Sopranos episode last season. They had me playing outside Santorelli’s pork store. They built a ramp, so I ran up the ramp and dunked. It looked pretty good because it was in slow motion.

From the Nov/Dec 2007 issue