Taylor Swift’s Knicks fandom defended by team after players question it
The Knicks backed Taylor Swift’s long-running support after Tyler Kolek and Deuce McBride questioned her fandom in a video exchange.
By Sal Moretti · Money Reporter
3 min read
Taylor Swift Knicks fan debate has reached the team itself after New York guard Tyler Kolek named the singer when asked which celebrity courtside supporter seemed least genuine. The Knicks responded by saying Swift has supported the franchise for years and has a long connection with Madison Square Garden.
Kolek and teammate Deuce McBride were answering questions in a streamed video exchange when they were asked to name the “fakest” celebrity fan they had seen sitting courtside, according to NBC News and a video transcript published by Entertainment Tonight.
“Maybe Taylor Swift?” Kolek answered. He said he did not recall seeing her at other games.
McBride agreed with Kolek’s answer, while predicting the singer’s fans would not welcome it. “Swifties not gonna like that answer,” he said, according to the Entertainment Tonight transcript.
Kolek also said he considered some celebrity attendance at Knicks games “performative,” arguing that people may come to be seen rather than because they follow the team. He acknowledged that Swift has a busy schedule and may not be able to attend frequently, but maintained his view in the video, according to syndicated reporting from ClutchPoints.
What did the Knicks say about Taylor Swift’s fandom?
The organization moved quickly to reject the implication that Swift is merely making an appearance. A Knicks spokesperson said the singer “has been a Knicks fan for many years,” has a “long history” with Madison Square Garden, and that the club appreciates her support, NBC News reported.
The same message appeared in a statement posted by the team’s official Instagram account, according to the supplied search result. The team’s statement is its position on Swift’s fandom, rather than proof that resolves the players’ subjective criticism.
Swift was photographed courtside at Madison Square Garden for Game 4 of the NBA Finals on June 10, alongside Este Haim and Mariska Hargitay, according to a Getty Images caption carried by NBC News. Deadline also reported that Alana Haim was seated with the group.
That appearance is the limited, documented game context in the reports. Kolek’s assessment rested on his own comment that he had not seen Swift at other games, while McBride’s contribution was his agreement and warning about the likely reaction from Swift’s fan base.
The video’s precise platform has been described differently in coverage: NBC News called it an NBA 2K TikTok livestream, while ClutchPoints described it as a video for Deflected. The reporting consistently shows the same exchange and the Knicks’ subsequent statement.
For now, the team has made its stance clear: it welcomes Swift’s support, even if two of its players have questions about the regularity of her courtside appearances.
This story draws on original reporting from NBC News.