The New York Knicks are taking no chances with pop star Taylor Swift’s allegiance to the franchise.
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The team pushed back after Knicks guard Tyler Kolek questioned Swift’s fandom, calling it fake, during a stream this week. In a statement sent to OutKick, a Knicks spokesperson 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.”
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Este Haim, Taylor Swift and Mariska Hargitay attend Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on June 10, 2026, in New York City. (Getty Images)
Asked to identify the “fakest” celebrity fan sitting courtside at Madison Square Garden following the Knicks’ title run, Kolek was brutally honest.
“At the Knicks games, I would say it’s very performative, because they want to be seen at the game,” Kolek told teammate Deuce McBride during a recent livestream. “They’re not necessarily fans.”
When pressed for a name, Kolek pointed to Swift: “Maybe Taylor Swift? I don’t know if I’ve seen her at any other games.” Kolek paid homage to MSG royalty like Ben Stiller.
McBride clocked the landmine in real time, warning him that Swifties were already coming for his head.
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Tyler Kolek #13 of the New York Knicks heads for the net during the first half of a preseason game against the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 13, 2025, in New York City. (Getty Images)
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 in New York City on June 10, 2026. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
In his third season in New York, the 25-year-old backup guard was on the Knicks’ 2026 championship roster. His Garden ties predate his NBA ring, having led Marquette to a Big East championship at MSG in 2023.
Swift’s actual sightings at MSG have been rare: a 2003 halftime show at age 13, a 2014 courtside appearance with Carmelo Anthony and a 12-year gap before returning for the 2026 Finals. MSG also displayed “Just Married” after she and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce tied the knot at the arena in July.
Tyler Kolek of the New York Knicks poses for a portrait after winning Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on June 13, 2026. (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE)
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Call it performative, but Swift moves the sports needle like no one else, and the Knicks weren’t about to let a backup point guard jeopardize that kind of clout.
Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela
