Tyler Kolek and Deuce McBride called Swift the team's "fakest" celebrity fan and "a little performative" during an NBA 2K TikTok livestream.
The New York Knicks issued a statement defending Taylor Swift's fandom after two of their own players publicly questioned it. During an NBA 2K TikTok livestream, guards Tyler Kolek and Miles "Deuce" McBride were asked who the fakest celebrity Knicks fan is. Kolek offered Swift's name, calling her "a little performative," and McBride agreed, warning that Swifties would not like the answer.
Swift attended Game 4 of the NBA Finals, which seems to be what prompted the question in the first place. Once the clip spread, the Knicks organization stepped in to smooth things over, releasing a statement praising Swift's "long history with Madison Square Garden" and calling her a fan of many years.
"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 statement read.
Kolek is no stranger to viral moments. He drew attention during the Knicks' championship parade in June when NYPD officers briefly mistook him for a random fan rather than a player.