Knicks guards Tyler Kolek and Miles McBride have sparked debate over whether Taylor Swift is a genuine fan of the club, and the team has already responded.
In an NBA 2K League video shared on Thursday, Kolek and McBride were asked to name the “fakest” celebrity fan they had seen courtside at an NBA game. Kolek suggested Swift, and McBride agreed.
“Maybe Taylor Swift? I don’t know if I’ve seen her at any other games,” Kolek said of the pop star’s appearance at Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
Kolek acknowledged that Swift’s schedule might prevent her from attending Madison Square Garden regularly, but he still described her fandom as “a little performative.” McBride pointed to two familiar faces at the Garden, Ben Stiller and Tracy Morgan, as examples of “solid” celebrity fans.
The Knicks, however, took a different view of Swift’s courtside presence. “Taylor Swift has been a Knicks fan for many years, has a long history with Madison Square Garden, and we are incredibly appreciative of her support of the organisation,” the team said in a statement to TMZ.
Swift has been photographed at Knicks games as far back as 2014, seven years before McBride joined the team and a decade before Kolek did.
Swift’s Recent Appearances
Swift was last seen courtside at Madison Square Garden on June 10, when the Knicks completed the largest comeback in NBA Finals history. They overcame a 29-point deficit to win 107-106 against the San Antonio Spurs. Less than a month later, she returned to the Garden for her star-studded wedding to Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, on July 3.
As for how Swift’s fans might react to the clip, Kolek had a clear expectation. “I’m going to get some hate from the Swifties,” he said.