Kolek made the remarks during an NBA 2K livestream with teammate Miles McBride, after the pair were asked to name the “fakest” celebrity fan they had seen courtside. He suggested some celebrities attend games to be seen and questioned whether Swift genuinely supported the Knicks. McBride agreed, then warned Kolek that Swifties would react. “I’m gonna get some hate from the Swifties,” Kolek replied.
Fans soon posted screenshots of his Finals statistics and joked that he was a “fake basketball player.” Others noted that he and Swift had logged the same number of minutes in the series. Kolek did contribute in earlier playoff games. Supporters also circulated older photographs of Swift at Knicks games, including a 2014 image, and recalled that she performed at Madison Square Garden as a 13-year-old during a Knicks halftime talent contest in 2003.
The Knicks defended Swift in a statement to TMZ Sports on November 6. “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,” a team spokesperson said.
Swift attended Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden with Mariska Hargitay and the Haim sisters, wearing a shirt reading “Stevie Knicks.” She had also attended an Eastern Conference Finals game against the Cleveland Cavaliers with Travis Kelce. Some basketball fans backed Kolek’s view, saying occasional appearances do not necessarily make someone a dedicated supporter. Swift has not publicly addressed the comments, and her representatives did not respond to initial media requests for comment.
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