Justin Bieber was apparently in need of some NY Knicks-shaped downtime this weekend, after his reported split from on-off girlfriend Selena Gomez .
The 20-year-old sports-loving star was spotted sitting courtside at the NBA team’s pre-season open scrimmage at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, where he was joined by pal Pastor Carl Lentz, a young child and a couple of bodyguards in tow.
Ever keen to capture a selfie — and why not? — Justin later posted an Instagram video of the practice.
“Young Carmelo runnin drills,” the Canadian wrote, referring to Carmelo Kyam Anthony – the record-setting power forward – who re-signed to the Knicks in July for a reported five-year deal.
Justin also shared a non-captioned, black and white picture of himself shaking hands with Carmelo at the basketball session.
. @justinbieber showing love for the #Knicks & their fans @TheGarden today! pic.twitter.com/GflgE3pMCC
— NBA New York Knicks (@nyknicks) October 26, 2014
Kate Arian, known as “Katela318” on Instagram, took the color version that surfaced later online.
( Photo: Justin Bieber and Carmelo Anthony shake hands courtside during the New York Knicks open scrimmage at Madison Square Garden on October 26. [Credit Kate Arian ] )
After fun at the garden, the “Confident” star took time to pose for impromptu meet and greets with New York fans.
( Photo: The reportedly newly single heartthrob appeared upbeat meeting fans after the NY Knicks scrimmage. )
Bieber’s New York adventure started on a religious note.
The singer attended a 10 am service at Hillsong NYC, held with Pastor Lentz.
The Big Apple branch is part of the Pentecostal Hillsong megachurch, and Justin and Carl are longtime friends.
In June, TMZ reported the pastor re-baptized the pop/R&B star in a bath in New York City, during a stressful period of his life.
On Sunday, the pastor tweeted about the service, writing,
SOOOOOOO Good to be in church today! I love @hillsongNYC , not perfect, just awesome..this 10am is faith filled!! 12/2/430/630/830pm #invited
— carl lentz (@carllentzNYC) October 26, 2014
Multiple eyewitnesses also took to the social media site to share their experience of seeing Bieber at the church.
Texts from my mom: “I’m sitting next to Justin Bieber at church, what do I do?” — Raissa Garcia (@laceupcakeup) October 26, 2014
Just worshipped in the same church as @justinbieber
— Amelia Sauter (@life_as_amelia) October 26, 2014
So disappointed I didn’t get to meet him pic.twitter.com/mCpHUFLUNe — Amelia Sauter (@life_as_amelia) October 26, 2014
Bieber and Lentz met up in Los Angeles earlier this week.
The pair reportedly attended the Hillsong United concert at The Forum in Inglewood, CA, on Thursday before flying to New York on a private jet from Los Angeles.
( Photo: Bieber and Pastor Lentz preparing to board a jet in L.A. )
During the flight, Justin Instagrammed a somewhat miserable looking selfie.
This may be down to last week’s rumor frenzy over shots of Selena and Brit actor Orlando Bloom flying out from LAX airport in Los Angeles at the same time , headed to the We Day Vancouver youth event in Canada, which Gomez hosted and Bloom was a guest speaker at.
While dating rumors were denied by a source and Bloom , eyebrows were raised because the pair fueled the chatter by taking the same flight.
Bloom, famously, tried to punch Bieber in July in a bar in Ibiza, Spain, reportedly over the singer’s rumored flirtation in 2012 with Orlando’s ex-wife — the supermodel Miranda Kerr.
As for Selena, she and Justin reportedly split after he took buddy model Kendall Jenner to lunch in Paris, when all three were in town for Fashion Week.
For the moment, it appears the “Baby” singer’s NYC R&R weekend may have pulled him out of the doldrums, as he appeared to be in good spirits interacting with fans.
[ Images via Kmm-Blitz-Jack/X17Online.com /Instagram/ Splash News/247PapsTV ]