Tyler Kolek and Miles McBride picked the wrong celebrity to clown on. During an NBA 2K TikTok livestream on Thursday, the two New York Knicks players named Taylor Swift as the fakest celebrity fan they'd seen courtside, and the organization moved swiftly to clean up the mess.
According to ESPN, Kolek floated Swift's name when asked who he considered the fakest celebrity fan, and McBride agreed with him. The remarks, made during a gaming livestream rather than a formal interview, quickly made their way around social media, including a post from the X account X @NBA_NewYork
capturing the exchange.
Kolek Called the Fandom ‘A Little Performative’
Kolek didn't stop at naming Swift. He went on to describe her Knicks support as a little performative, questioning how often she actually shows up. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Kolek said, “I don't know if I've seen her at any other games. I guess she's got a lot going on, so she can't come all the time.”
The comments carried an added wrinkle: per the seed facts behind this story, Kolek's girlfriend, Alexi Sousa, is a self-identified Swiftie who reacted after the remarks, posting that she had woken up next to Kolek and seen what he had said about her girl. McBride, for his part, simply backed up his teammate's take, agreeing with Kolek's assessment that Swift's fandom seemed less than genuine.
Knicks Organization Steps In to Defend Swift
The team wasn't about to let the comments slide. A Knicks spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter that Swift has been a fan for many years, saying, “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.”
That history runs deeper than a few recent courtside appearances. The Athletic's reporting, via The Athletic, traces Swift's connection to Madison Square Garden back to 2003, when she performed there as part of a kids talent show during halftime of a Knicks game. ESPN's reporting adds that she's been photographed at Knicks games as far back as 2014.
Swift's Recent Courtside Appearances
Swift's attendance record this year gives the Knicks plenty of ammunition for their defense. She and Travis Kelce were at Game 3 of the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals between the Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers on May 23, according to InStyle.
She later turned up courtside for Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 10, when the Knicks overcame a 29-point deficit to beat the San Antonio Spurs, per ESPN's account of that comeback win. New York went on to close out the series in San Antonio three days later, winning the franchise's first NBA championship since 1973.
Swift's ties to the Garden and the team go back even further, by her own account. As CBS News reported, the Pennsylvania native told TIME in 2014 that her affection for the venue stems from that childhood talent show, noting her fondness for the Garden “since they let me sing when I was a little kid.”
