Fri, November 6, 2026 at 11:37 PM UTC
The New York Knicks have thanked Taylor Swift for her support over the years, following a viral video where two players called her a “performative” fan after the NBA Finals.
Swift was one of many high-profile celebrities to attend the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden before the Knicks ended a 53-year wait for championship success. Swift was seen courtside at Game 4, joining regular attendees Ben Stiller and Timothee Chalamet.
During a recent NBA2K livestream, Knicks stars Tyler Kolek and Miles McBride discussed celebrity fans and concluded that Swift’s support may not be authentic. In response, the Knicks released a statement.
• Trump admin confirms assistance for basketball player Jarred Shaw after avoiding death penalty
• Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd reveal their relationship ended ‘over a year ago’ and discuss impact
“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,” the Knicks said
During Game 4 of the NBA Finals, Swift was seen wearing a “Stevie Knicks” T-shirt and was sitting next to Alana Haim, Este Haim, and Mariska Hargitay. Swift was also courtside for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals when the Knicks played on the road against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
During the ECF matchup, Swift was sitting with her now-husband Travis Kelce, who is a longtime Cleveland sports fan. Despite claiming to be a longtime fan, Kolek and McBride weren’t convinced.
Kolek and McBride collaborated on a livestream while playing the leading basketball video game, NBA2K. During the stream, which was posted on Thursday, the players were asked who the fakest celebrity fan they had noticed sitting courtside was.
The Knicks attract a long list of celebrities who are often invited to watch from celebrity row. Despite a large pool of candidates, Kolek focused on Swift.
“At the Knicks games, I would say it’s very performative because like they just want to be seen at the game. They’re not necessarily fans. Probably Taylor Swift,” Kolek answered.
McBride agreed with his teammate, who admitted that he was “going to get some hate from the Swifties.” Kolek then added, “I guess she’s got a lot going on, so she can’t come all the time, but … it’s a little performative.”
Meanwhile, Kolek referred to Stiller and Tracy Morgan as “solid,” though both stars have frequently attended Knicks games over the years. According to TMZ, Swift’s support of the Knicks began in 2003 when she competed in a halftime show talent contest at age 13.
Swift also showed her affection for MSG this summer, as it was the venue for her wedding. Swift and Kelce led to a partial shutdown of New York City after holding their ceremony at the iconic arena.
The singer is often seen attending Kansas City Chiefs games, as she supports Kelce during what could be his final NFL season. While her attendance at Knicks games is rare, she and many other celebrities were eager to witness part of New York’s championship run.
