Knicks defend Taylor Swift in statement after players Tyler Kolek and Miles McBride call her 'fakest' fan

The validity of Taylor Swift's New York Knicks fandom is once again up for debate. The team itself is taking her side, in response to its own players.Knicks bench players Tyler Kolek and Miles "Deuce" McBride drew plenty of attention Thursday during an appearance on the NBA 2K League's "Deflected" video series, in which they were asked to identify "the fakest celebrity fan you've seen sitting courtside in an NBA game."Kolek's first suggestion was Swift, with McBride quickly agreeing and anticipating a backlash from Swift's fans. The full exchange:KOLEK: "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. Maybe Taylor Swift?"MCBRIDE: "I would agree."KOLEK: "I don't know if I've seen her at any other games."MCBRIDE: "Yeah. Swifties not going to like that answer."KOLEK: "Yeah, nah, the Swifties — I'm going to get some hate from the Swifties."MCBRIDE: "Everybody else is usually solid. You know, like Ben Stiller, Tracy [Morgan]."KOLEK: "I guess she's got a lot going on, so she can't come all the time, but —"MCBRIDE: "Oh he trying to save his ass."KOLEK: "It's a little performative."The exchange made it onto some social channels for NBA 2K League, but can no longer be found on TikTok or Instagram. The original YouTube video, however, remains up.A day after the video was published, the Knicks released a statement defending one of their most famous fans, via The Athletic's James L. Edwards III:"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."Swift has been known to be a Knicks fan for more than a decade. In 2014, she told Time Magazine she's loved the team since performing at a halftime kids talent competition when she was 12 or 13 and later developed a friendship with then-Knicks star Amar'e Stoudemire.Taylor Swift has been known to be a Knicks fan for years.AP Photo/Frank Franklin IIDuring the Knicks' championship run, Swift attended both Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals, in Cleveland, then Game 4 of the NBA Finals. The latter was a historic comeback for New York, with Swift's reactions receiving plenty of attention on the broadcast while wearing a "Stevie Knicks" shirt. She was one of several celebrities seen losing their minds at the end of the game, celebrating alongside friends Este and Alana Haim plus Mariska Hargitay.She married Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce at the Knicks' home of Madison Square Garden less than a month later.This isn't the first time Swift's Knicks fandom has been called into question by someone involved in the Knicks organization, as team radio analyst Monica McNutt derided her after seeing her before Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals. McNutt issued an apology via TMZ street interview less than 24 hours later.Kolek, a second-round pick out of Marquette in the 2024 NBA Draft, is in his third NBA season and logged 53 total minutes in 8 of 19 games across the Knicks' playoff run. McBride has played for the Knicks since 2021 and averaged 5.6 points in 17.6 minutes while appearing in all 19 games.