Knicks Rep Thanks Taylor Swift For “Many Years” Of Fan Support After Tyler Kolek Comments

Este Haim, Taylor Swift and Mariska Hargitay react during Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks on June 10, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Al Bello/Getty Images Nobody can accuse Taylor Swift of being a fake Knicks fan… not even Knicks point guard Tyler Kolek. Following Kolek’s claim that the 14x Grammy winner is a “very performative” fan of the 2026 NBA champions, a rep for the team defended Swift and thanked her for “many years” of support. “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 Knicks rep said in a statement to multiple outlets. The statement came after Kolek said on a since-deleted NBA TikTok livestream, “At the Knicks games, I would say it’s very performative. Because they just want to be seen at the game. They’re not necessarily fans.” When asked who he considers the fakest Knicks fan, Kolek said, “Maybe Taylor Swift? I don’t know if I’ve seen her at any other games.” Watch on Deadline Having been photographed at Knicks games as far back as 2014, Swift was seated court-side in June for Game 4 of the team’s first NBA Finals victory in 53 years, along with Mariska Hargitay, Alana Haim and Este Haim. In July, she and Travis Kelce tied the knot in a private ceremony hosted at the team’s home court, Madison Square Garden. Must Read Stories Read More About: Subscribe to Deadline Get our Breaking News Alerts and Keep your inbox happy. Sign Up