NEW YORK, NY — Will Bad Bunny be making an appearance at a St. John’s Red Storm game this coming 2026-2027 Men’s College Basketball season?
Imagine the scene at “The World’s Most Famous Arena” if the global sensation and Puerto Rican rap and pop icon were to be courtside and seated right next to St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino during one of the Red Storm’s home games held at Madison Square Garden.
As someone who spent time in Puerto Rico as their National Coach, watching Bad Bunny at halftime was awesome. @sanbenito you have a seat on the Johnnies bench anytime. Viva Puerto Rico!
— Rick Pitino (@RealPitino) February 9, 2026
Well, according to the 73-year-old Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer, who was directly asked by Latino Sports during Big East Media Day this past Thursday morning of his offer to San Benito still standing, Pitino indeed doubled down.
“Anytime he wants,” said Pitino, first publicly extending an offer to Bad Bunny over his X/Twitter account this past February following the 32-year-old’s historic performance in Apple Music’s Super Bowl LX Halftime Show.
“I have four seats right next to me. If Bad Bunny wants to come sit next to me, he’s invited.”
This should come by no surprise as Pitino has much love and a connection to Puerto Rico beyond an interest in Bad Bunny’s music, a bond with the island, coaching the Puerto Rico Men’s National Basketball Team during the summer of 2015.
“It was a great experience, I loved doing it,” he said, also coaching the Greece Men’s National Basketball Team in 2019 while now headed into his fourth year at St. John’s as the Red Storm’s head coach.
He later described the experience in Puerto Rico as one he’ll always remember and be thankful for, stating, “Puerto Rico has beautiful beaches, but I love the Puerto Rican people. They treated me like their own. And, it always comes down to people, not places, and I love the Puerto Rican people.”
Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Rick Pitino had the opportunity to coach the Puerto Rico Men’s National Basketball Team during the summer of 2015 and enjoyed every minute of his time on the island – Image Credit: Francisco Rodriguez/Latino Sports
Throughout his time on the island, Pitino had the best of the best when it comes to food and cuisine.
“Whatever they served, I ate. It was a little hot and spicy, but I ate it.”
And like all of us at Latino Sports who believe the sport of basketball has grown on a global level more and more year by year, Pitino, too, agrees:
“I feel like it’s gotten a lot stronger. They’ve (International Basketball) caught up to us (Hoops in the United States). All these countries are really strong right now and it makes it fun.”
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