Jalen Brunson received a standing ovation during Mariska Hargitay's Broadway performance of Every Brilliant Thing, after the actress surprised theatergoers with a special tribute to the New York Knicks captain. Brunson attended Friday night's show at New York City's Hudson Theatre alongside his wife, Ali Marks. The evening quickly turned into an unforgettable experience as Hargitay incorporated the NBA champion into her one-woman production, drawing one of the biggest reactions of the night.

That tribute turned an already memorable night at the theater into one of Brunson's most unexpected off-court moments since leading the Knicks to an NBA title.

According to PEOPLE, during one segment of Every Brilliant Thing, Mariska Hargitay customized the performance by pulling Jalen Brunson's New York Knicks jersey from a box and declaring, "No. 555,555: Knicks in Five," a nod to the franchise's championship-winning season.

"It was so sweet. He was congratulating her and telling her how much he loved the show. She was so thrilled he was there. You could see how much admiration they have for one another," a source on the scene told PEOPLE.

The tribute prompted audience members to rise for a standing ovation as Brunson watched from the center orchestra section. PEOPLE, which was first to report on the Broadway moment, also revealed that Brunson and Ali Marks went backstage after the performance to meet Hargitay and her husband, Peter Hermann.

Mariska Hargitay and Jamie Lee Curtis Share a Laugh Over Being 'Dated' in “Showbiz”

The onstage tribute and backstage reunion quickly became one of the evening's defining moments, extending a friendship that has continued to resonate with fans beyond the basketball court. It also reignited speculation that the mutual admiration between Brunson and Hargitay could eventually lead to an SVU cameo.

Jalen Brunson has previously spoken about wanting to appear on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, while Mariska Hargitay has repeatedly celebrated the Knicks star both during New York's championship run and beyond. Friday night's Broadway tribute marked another public show of support between the pair.

As videos of Hargitay holding up Brunson's jersey and the standing ovation spread online, many fans suggested the moment felt like another step toward making the NBA star's long-discussed SVU dream cameo a reality. There has been no official indication that Brunson will appear on the long-running crime drama, and neither he nor Hargitay has commented on the speculation. Still, after the actress made him part of her Broadway performance, fans have been quick to wonder whether the next collaboration between the two could happen on television.

Jalen Brunson Finally Ends Viral Elmo Feud at Knicks Championship Parade

Do you think Jalen Brunson should make a guest appearance on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit? Let us know in the comments!