Taylor Swift’s love affair with the New York Knicks took an unexpected turn after two players from last season’s NBA champions accused the singer of being a fair-weather fan.
The Knicks released a statement defending Swift on Friday after Tyler Kolek and Miles McBride questioned whether the pop superstar was a true supporter of the team.
During an NBA 2K live stream on Thursday, reserve guards were asked to name the least authentic celebrity fan they’ve seen on the court during an NBA game.
“At Knicks games, I would say it’s high performance because they just want to be seen at the game,” Kolek said. “They’re not necessarily fans. Probably Taylor Swift.”
McBride agreed with that assessment, while Kolek acknowledged that his comments could provoke a backlash from Swift’s supporters.
“I’m going to get some hate from the Swifties,” Kolek said. “I guess she has a lot of things to do, so she can’t come all the time, but… it’s a bit performative.”
McBride identified actor Ben Stiller and comedian Tracy Morgan as more engaged Knicks supporters, describing them both as “solid” fans.
The Knicks found themselves in the awkward position of defending one of their most famous fans against their own players, acting quickly Friday to avoid any conflict with Swift.
“Taylor Swift has been a Knicks fan for many years, has a long history with Madison Square Garden and we greatly appreciate her support of the organization,” a team spokesperson said.
Swift, 36, has attended several high-profile Knicks games, including Game 4 of this year’s NBA Finals, when she sat courtside alongside actress Mariska Hargitay and musicians Alana and Este Haim. Wearing a royal blue “Stevie Knicks” t-shirt with orange lettering that quickly went viral and inspired a wave of copycat merchandise, she watched OG Anunoby score a last-second tip-in to secure a famous victory in New York.
She also attended Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals in Cleveland with her husband, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, a longtime fan of Cleveland sports.
Swift knows Madison Square Garden all too well, where he first performed at age 13 in 2003 during a Knicks halftime talent contest. She and Kelce were married at the arena in July.
Kolek and McBride are both eligible for contract extensions, although the Knicks said in October they were not holding extension negotiations with the players. The team has a $2.5 million option on Kolek for the 2026-27 season.
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