Knicks bench players Tyler Kolek and Miles “Deuce” McBride just lit up social media, and not for their on-court moves. These guys went on the NBA 2K League’s “Deflected” video series and outright called Taylor Swift the “fakest celebrity fan” sitting courtside at an NBA game. Can you believe it? And the team, the *New York Knicks*, turned around and fired back defending their superstar fan.
Kolek and McBride Drop the Hammer
The whole thing went down when Kolek and McBride were asked to name the “fakest celebrity fan.” Kolek didn’t hesitate, jumping straight to Swift. He said her courtside appearances at Knicks games felt “very performative,” implying celebrities “just want to be seen at the game” and aren’t “necessarily fans.” McBride was quick to agree, probably anticipating the explosion from the Swifties. Kolek even added, “I don’t know if I’ve seen her at any other games,” which, oof. McBride chimed in, “Yeah. Swifties not going to like that answer.” Kolek knew it too, saying, “Yeah, nah, the Swifties,I’m going to get some hate from the Swifties.” He tried to backtrack a little, saying “I guess she’s got a lot going on, so she can’t come all the time,” but McBride shut that down quick: “Oh he trying to save his ass.” Talk about a brutal exchange.
The Team’s Unbelievable Response
Just a day after that video dropped, the Knicks organization, through The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III, released a full-blown statement defending Taylor Swift. They said, “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.” That’s 24 words, folks, and every single one of them throws shade right back at Kolek and McBride. This isn’t just some casual fan, either. Swift has been repping the Knicks for over a decade, reportedly telling Time Magazine in 2014 that her love for the team started when she performed at a halftime kids talent competition as a young teenager. She even developed a friendship with former Knicks star Amar’e Stoudemire. She was there for the Knicks’ championship run, cheering hard at Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals and Game 4 of the NBA Finals, where her reactions, wearing a “Stevie Knicks” shirt, got serious airtime. She was losing her mind celebrating with Este and Alana Haim and Mariska Hargitay during that historic comeback. Oh, and she literally married Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden less than a month later. So yeah, she’s got history with the Garden.
Another Day, Another “Fake Fan” Backlash
This isn’t even the first time someone tied to the Knicks has questioned Swift’s fandom. Back before Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals, team radio analyst Monic McNutt took a jab at her, only to issue an apology via TMZ street interview less than 24 hours later. It’s wild how this keeps happening! As for the players who started it all: Kolek, a second-round pick from 2024, is in his third NBA season and played 53 total minutes in 8 of 19 playoff games. McBride, with the Knicks since 2021, averaged 5.6 points in 17.6 minutes, appearing in all 19 playoff games. So these aren’t exactly the stars of the team talking smack. This whole situation is just wild, right? You gotta wonder what kind of conversations are happening in the locker room after the team publicly clapped back at its own guys like that.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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