The New York Knicks organization wasted no time responding after players Tyler Kolek and Miles McBride publicly questioned Taylor Swift’s fandom of the team. It’s a wild turn of events when your own guys are calling out one of the biggest stars on the planet for her courtside commitment, and the front office has to step in to smooth things over.
Knicks Guards Call Out a Superstar
Can you believe this? Tyler Kolek and Miles McBride, two Knicks guards, went live on an NBA 2K League TikTok stream this week and straight-up dropped a bomb. Someone asked them the ultimate celebrity fan question: “Who’s the fakest celeb fan you’ve seen courtside?” And Kolek, without missing a beat, throws out: “Maybe Taylor Swift?” McBride totally jumped in, probably knowing the internet would explode, saying, “I would agree…Swifties not gonna like that answer.”
Kolek, to his credit, seemed to know what was coming, admitting, “I’m gonna get some hate…” He tried to soften the blow a little, adding, “I guess she’s got a lot going on…can’t come all the time…but it’s a little performative.” So he acknowledges she’s busy, but still hit her with the “performative” label. This isn’t the first time a Knick has brought up Swift’s attendance, either. Back in June, their teammate Jose Alvarado told *Us Weekly* that he wanted to see her at more games. “That’s a surreal superstar, and I was happy she was cheering us on,” Alvarado said, adding, “And [she] seemed like she was having a good time, and we won, so even better.” He straight up told the outlet, “She got to come more often.” So, Kolek and McBride aren’t exactly alone in their observation, even if they were more direct about it.
The Organization Fires Back
The Knicks organization wasn’t about to let their biggest celebrity supporter get called out by their own players. They hit back hard and fast, sending a statement to *Entertainment Weekly* on November 6. And they didn’t mince words, saying, “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 organization.” Boom! That’s a direct defense of their A-list fan.
They’ve got the receipts, too. Swift’s most recent appearance at Madison Square Garden to cheer on the team was for Game 4 of the NBA Finals, when the Knicks were facing the San Antonio Spurs. She was courtside with her friends Alana and Este Haim, and Mariska Hargitay, all of them rocking custom shirts to rep the Knicks. And, get this, while her last visit to MSG wasn’t for a game, it was for something huge: she said “I do” to Travis Kelce right there on July 3, in front of a thousand of their star-studded guests. The team also pointed out that she’s been sighted at home games consistently since she made the move to New York City back in 2014. She’s been around, guys!
So what’s next? Kolek and McBride have kept quiet so far, not reacting to the organization’s statement. This whole thing leaves you wondering if their comments were just a rookie mistake, or if maybe there’s some unspoken truth about celebrity fandom. Either way, this is one off-court drama we’ll definitely be keeping an eye on to see how it plays out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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