Sports

Knicks Defend Taylor Swift After Guards Question Her Fandom

Imani WeaverPublished 18m ago2 min readBased on 6 sources
Knicks Defend Taylor Swift After Guards Question Her Fandom
Photo by JazzHandsIncarnate / CC BY-SA 4.0

The New York Knicks defended Taylor Swift on Friday after two of their point guards questioned whether she is a real fan of the team.

The comments came during an NBA 2K livestream on Thursday. NBA 2K is a basketball video game, and the players were asked to name the least authentic celebrity fan they had seen courtside, meaning in the seats right next to the floor. Tyler Kolek, 25, named Swift. He called celebrity attendance at Knicks games performative, saying those fans just want to be seen, and he said he had not seen Swift at other Knicks games. He also said he expected to get hate from Swifties, her devoted fan base, for saying it.

Miles McBride, who goes by "Deuce," agreed with Kolek. He pointed to actors Ben Stiller and Tracy Morgan as more committed Knicks supporters, describing both as solid fans.

The team responded with a statement. A Knicks spokesperson said Swift has been a fan for many years, has a long history with Madison Square Garden, and that the organization appreciates her support. Kolek's remarks also drew backlash from Swift's fans, according to the New York Post.

Swift has been a visible presence at this postseason's biggest games. She attended Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals in Cleveland with Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end. She was also at Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs, where she sat courtside with actress Mariska Hargitay and musicians Alana and Este Haim. The conference finals decide which two teams reach the championship series.

Photographs of Swift at Knicks games date back to 2014, ESPN reported. That is years before either guard joined the roster, which is part of why the team's defense of her has drawn attention.

For fans, the exchange is a reminder that the most-watched seats in the building are never far from the conversation. The Knicks have not said whether the topic will come up again, and the two guards have not revisited it publicly. Swift has not addressed the comments so far.

Related Articles