Knicks Guard Tyler Kolek Questions If Taylor Swift Is a Real Fan

Taylor Swift has been cheering for the New York Knicks in a big way, but at least one player isn't fully convinced.

Knicks guard Tyler Kolek, 25, questioned whether the pop star is a true fan of the team in an NBA 2K livestream clip shared on TikTok on Thursday, Nov. 5.

His comments quickly set off a wave of reactions from Swifties, and the Knicks themselves stepped in to defend the singer.

"Very performative"

During the stream, Kolek and teammate Miles "Deuce" McBride were asked to name the "fakest" celebrity fan they have seen sitting courtside at an NBA game.

Kolek started with a general take on the famous faces at Madison Square Garden. "At the Knicks games, I would say it's very performative," he said, "because they just want to be seen at the game. They're not necessarily fans."

Then he named names. "Maybe Taylor Swift?" Kolek said. "I don't know if I've seen her at any other games."

Deuce McBride weighs in

Kolek wasn't alone on the stream. His teammate McBride was there too, and he seemed to agree with the pick.

McBride warned that Swifties would not like that answer. He also gave a shout-out to a few celebrity regulars he sees as the real deal, praising actors Ben Stiller and Tracy Morgan as solid fans.

Kolek also seemed to know his answer might not go over well. "I'm going to get some hate from the Swifties," he said.

He did try to soften the blow a little. "I guess she's got a lot going on, so she can't come all the time," he added. "But it's a little performative."

The Knicks defend Taylor

It didn't take long for the team to respond.

A Knicks spokesperson made it clear the organization is firmly on Swift's side. In a statement on Friday, Nov. 6, the 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."

Taylor's history with the Knicks

Kolek's claim that he hasn't seen Swift at other games doesn't quite match her recent track record.

In May, Swift sat courtside at Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland on Saturday, May 23. She was there with her then-fiancé, Travis Kelce, who wore a Cavaliers cap and later pulled on the team's playoff T-shirt.

Weeks later, she made a splash at Madison Square Garden for Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, June 10. She wore a blue T-shirt with "Stevie Knicks" printed in orange, a playful nod to Stevie Nicks.

She brought along Alana and Este Haim, who joined in on the fun with Knicks pun shirts reading "Knickelback" and "Knickole Kidman." Their sister Danielle joined them later in the game.

When Swift appeared on the jumbotron that night, the crowd responded with loud cheers.

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A historic night at the Garden

Swift picked quite the game to attend.

The Knicks pulled off a stunning comeback that night, rallying from a 29-point deficit, the biggest comeback in Finals history. OG Anunoby tipped in a Jalen Brunson miss with 1.2 seconds left to give New York a 107-106 win.

Swift was seen jumping around in celebration as the Garden erupted. She sat courtside near Ben Stiller, and other famous faces in the arena included Timothée Chalamet, Hailey Bieber, Tate McRae, Spike Lee and Mariska Hargitay.

The next night, Thursday, June 11, Swift was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. She attributed her raspy voice partly to screaming at the game.

Not the first time her fandom was questioned

This isn't the first time someone has questioned Swift's Knicks loyalty.

During Game 4 in June, Knicks radio analyst Monica McNutt was caught on a hot mic making a comment about the singer. "She's not a Knicks fan. Get out of here, girl," McNutt said.

The remark drew backlash from fans, and McNutt apologized the next day, saying she had misspoken. Knicks star Jalen Brunson later asked Swifties to "cut her some slack."

Knicks guard Jose Alvarado, meanwhile, was all for Swift's support. He told Us Weekly on Thursday, June 18, that she "got to come more often."

Her roots at the Garden

Swift's connection to Madison Square Garden goes back much further than this year.

In a 2014 interview, Swift said she had a "sparkly, magical opinion" of the Garden and the Knicks. That feeling started when she sang at a halftime kids' talent competition there when she was just 12 or 13 years old.

She went on to attend Knicks games over the years, including matchups against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2014, and the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014.

She also headlined the Garden on her Fearless Tour in 2009 and her Speak Now Tour in 2011, and she has performed there at several Jingle Ball events.

And this summer, the venue became even more special for her. Swift and Kelce got married at Madison Square Garden on Friday, July 3.

Read more: Taylor Swift Reportedly Weighs PIs Over Leaked MSG Wedding Photos

A big sports fan in general

Swift's love of sports isn't limited to basketball.

Since she began dating Kelce in 2023, she has become a regular at Kansas City Chiefs games, cheering from suites at Arrowhead Stadium and on the road. She was at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas in February 2024 when the Chiefs beat the 49ers 25-22 in overtime to win Super Bowl LVIII, and her game-day appearances have become a big part of NFL coverage over the past few seasons.

And when it comes to the Knicks, her ties to the Garden go back to her childhood, long before her romance with an NFL star made her a fixture at sporting events. That history is exactly what the team pointed to when it came to her defense.

Still, every fan base has its own idea of what a "real" fan looks like, and for Kolek, showing up more often during the regular season seems to be the test.

Who is Tyler Kolek?

Kolek is a point guard for the Knicks. He was a second-round pick, No. 34 overall, in the 2024 NBA Draft after a standout college career at Marquette.

He has seen more playing time early this season while teammate Jose Alvarado was sidelined with a sprained ankle. Alvarado missed four straight games in late October, and in those games Kolek dished out 25 assists with just two turnovers. Even after Alvarado returned, Kolek stayed in the rotation, recording five assists in 11 minutes during a 135-105 win over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, Nov. 4.

Knicks coach Mike Brown has made it clear he wants Kolek on the floor. "Tyler is definitely going to keep playing while Jose is out," Brown said before Alvarado's return, adding, "When he comes back, we'll figure it out."

What happens next?

Swift has not publicly responded to Kolek's comments as of Saturday, Nov. 7.

The NBA season is just getting started, and there is no word yet on when Swift might be back courtside at the Garden. If she does return for a regular-season game, Kolek may get to see a Swift sighting for himself.

For now, the Knicks have made their position clear: in their eyes, Swift is a Knicks fan.