The New York Knicks moved swiftly on Friday to defend Taylor Swift after two of the team's own players, Tyler Kolek and Miles McBride, publicly questioned the pop star's credentials as a fan.
The comments came Thursday during an NBA 2K TikTok livestream, when the pair were asked to name "the fakest celeb fan you've seen courtside" at Madison Square Garden, an arena famous for its front row of celebrity supporters.
"Maybe Taylor Swift?" Kolek answered. "I don't know if I've seen her at any other games." McBride agreed with the assessment, though he seemed aware of the fallout it could bring. "I would agree," he said. "Swifties (are) not going like that answer."
Sensing trouble, Kolek tried to soften his remarks, suggesting the singer's life as a showgirl might make attending games difficult. "I guess she's got a lot going on so she can't come all the time," he said. "But it's a little performative."
The defending world champions wasted little time responding. "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 spokesperson said in a statement to NBC News.
Kolek may also have some explaining to do closer to home. His girlfriend, Alexi Sousa, is a self-identified Swiftie and wanted to know "what he had to say about my girl."
Swift's place in Knicks lore was cemented during Game 4 of the NBA finals, when she sat courtside at Madison Square Garden with Alana Haim, Este Haim and Mariska Hargitay. The group wore t-shirts with Knicks-themed puns and watched New York erase a 29-point deficit to beat San Antonio.
Three days later, the Knicks finished off the series in San Antonio, bringing the NBA championship back to New York for the first time since 1973.
The singer's connection to the franchise stretches back well beyond the title run. She famously visited a Knicks practice in 2014, when Amar'e Stoudemire gave her a lift for a memorable slam dunk.
