New York Knicks player Tyler Kolek has named Taylor Swift as the most performative celebrity fan of the NBA champion team.
In a now-deleted NBA 2K League video, the 25-year-old athlete was asked to name the “fakest celebrity Knicks fan” alongside his teammate, Miles “Deuce” McBride.
“At the Knicks games, I’d say it’s pretty performative. Because they’re not necessarily fans,” said Kolek. “Maybe Taylor Swift?”
McBride agreed, as Kolek added: “I don’t know if I’ve seen her at any other games.”
“Swifties are not gonna like that answer,” laughed McBride, referring to the singer’s massive fanbase.
Kolek then appeared to retreat from his stance, saying: “The Swifties, I’m gonna get some hate from the Swifties… I guess she’s got a lot going on so she can’t come all the time.”
“He’s tryna save his ass,” McBride quipped.
The Independent has contacted Swift’s representative for comment.
Fans were quick to defend Swift, who has been pictured attending Knicks games as early as 2014.
“No Taylor is a fan, you’ll find pictures of her going back over a decade supporting them even when they were losing,” said a comment underneath the now-deleted post. “I don’t know why everyone jumps to call her fake, is it just vibes?”
“Taylor was going to games years and years ago,” said another.
“That’s crazy, she’s been there before Tyler was even in the team,” said another, as one added: “She’s been there before either of you were drafted.”
The Knicks have a legion of die-hard celebrity fans, such as Ben Stiller, Spike Lee, Timothée Chalamet, Tracy Morgan, Adam Sandler and Mariska Hargitay.
Chalamet was joined at the final championship games alongside his girlfriend, model and influencer Kylie Jenner.
Swift – who moved to New York City in 2014 – sat courtside at game four of the 2026 NBA finals wearing matching blue T-Shirts printed with “Stevie Knicks,” alongside Hargitay, Este Haim and Alana Haim.
In June, the NBA team won its first title in 53 years, capped by a game five victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
At the time, newer Knicks fans were being accused of bandwagoning on the team’s success.
During game four, ESPN and MSG Network analyst Monica McNutt caught flak from Swifties for similarly accusing the singer of being a fake fan.
McNutt said during a broadcast, “She’s not a Knicks fan, get out of here girl.”
The analyst faced backlash from Swifties, and she later said she thought they were off-air when she made the comment.
She told The Pivot that it was the “epitome of a hot mic situation.”
“I’m still mystified and would love someone to explain how that got to the masses, but we’ll leave that there,” she continued.
Speaking to TMZ, the ESPN reporter apologized and called it a “throwaway comment.” She said that viewers “gotta be able to read a little colloquialism,” explaining that her telling Swift to “get out of here” did not mean “literally get out of here.”
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