Taylor Swift is the ‘fakest’ celeb Knicks fan, players say; team rushes to her defense
Este Haim, Taylor Swift, and Mariska Hargitay attend Game Four of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on June 10 in New York. Al Bello / GettyShareAdd NBC News to GoogleNov. 6, 2026, 5:01 PM ESTBy David K. LiThe New York Knicks rushed to Taylor Swift’s defense Friday after players Tyler Kolek and Miles McBride questioned the singer’s fandom.
The defending world champions were quick jump on their white horse and laud the singer in the wake of their players stirring up some bad blood with blue-and-orange Swifties.
“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,” a Knicks spokesperson said in a statement to NBC News.
Kolek might even have some explaining to do to his girlfriend and self-identified Swiftie, Alexi Sousa, who wanted to know “what he had to say about my girl.”
The Knicks famously boast a front row of world famous fans at their Madison Square Garden home dates.
When Kolek and McBride appeared on an NBA 2K TikTok livestream on Thursday and were asked who is “the fakest celeb fan you’ve seen courtside,” they dared coming for the 5-foot-10 Pennsylvania native and 14-time Grammy winner.
“Maybe Taylor Swift?” Kolek said. “I don’t know if I’ve seen her at any other games.”
McBride agreed, but acknowledged that he and Kolek had damaged their reputation and were headed for anti-hero status.
“I would agree,” McBride said. “Swifties (are) not going like that answer.”
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“I guess she’s got a lot going on so she can’t come all the time,” Kolek said. “But it’s a little performative.”
Swift’s role in Knicks history will live as long as fans remember Game 4 of the NBA finals, when she sat courtside with Alana Haim, Este Haim and Mariska Hargitay at Madison Square Garden.
They donned t-shirts with Knicks-ian puns and watched New York shake off a 29-point deficit to beat San Antonio.
The Knicks, three days later, clinched the series in San Antonio and brought the NBA championship back to New York for the first time since 1973.
Swift is no stranger to the Knicks as she famously visited practice in 2014 and got a lift from Amar’e Stoudemire for a memorable slam dunk.
David K. LiSenior Breaking News Reporter
