Knicks Release Statement After Tyler Kolek Questions Taylor Swift’s Fandom

The New York Knicks defended Taylor Swift Friday after guard Tyler Kolek questioned whether the singer’s courtside appearances reflected genuine interest in the team. A team spokesperson said Swift had followed the Knicks for years and that the organization was “incredibly appreciative of her support.” 

Kolek commented on teammate Miles “Deuce” McBride on the NBA 2K League’s Deflected. While playing NBA 2K, Kolek was asked to name the least genuine celebrity fan he had seen courtside. He suggested Swift, said he could not recall seeing her at other games and described her appearances as “a little performative.” 

McBride agreed and predicted Swift’s fans would take issue with the answer. He brought up Ben Stiller and Tracy Morgan as examples of celebrities whose support he considered genuine.

Kolek also acknowledged during the exchange that Swift’s schedule could explain why he had seen her so infrequently.

The team’s response pointed to Swift’s connection with Madison Square Garden. She told Time in 2014 that her interest in the Knicks dated to a halftime talent competition she performed in as a kid.

She also became friends with former Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire and has been photographed courtside at the Garden since at least 2014. 

Her recent appearances included two stops during New York’s championship run. She attended Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals in Cleveland with Travis Kelce, a longtime Cavaliers fan. She was back at Madison Square Garden for Game 4 of the NBA Finals, wearing a “Stevie Knicks” shirt as New York rallied to beat the San Antonio Spurs 107-106. 

The Garden was also the site of Swift and Kelce’s July wedding. The Knicks’ statement focused on her support for the team, pointing to a relationship with the franchise that predates both the wedding and the title run. 

Kolek addressed the clip Saturday after the Knicks beat the Cavaliers 109-97 in Cleveland. He said people had sent him photos of Swift at older games, including one in which she wore a No. 13 jersey. He acknowledged that he had been unfamiliar with that part of her history as a Knicks fan and took responsibility for how he answered. 

Kolek also said he enjoys Swift’s music and had been singing along to it in the locker room. By Sunday, teammate Jordan Clarkson had posted a video of the guard singing “Blank Space,” giving the exchange a lighter ending after Kolek’s comments and the team’s response.