The New York Knicks have defended Taylor Swift after two of their players questioned her support for the team. Guards Tyler Kolek and Miles “Deuce” McBride singled her out during a discussion of celebrity spectators at Madison Square Garden.
A Knicks spokesperson told Entertainment Weekly that Swift had supported the team for years. The organization was “incredibly appreciative of her support,” the representative said.
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The exchange appeared in a November 5 installment of the NBA 2K League’s Deflected series. Kolek and McBride were answering questions while playing the basketball video game when the subject turned to familiar faces in courtside seats.
Swift, 36, was among the celebrities attending New York’s NBA Finals games in June. EW said it had contacted her for comment but had not received an immediate response when its November 6 report was published.
Kolek Calls Swift’s Appearances ‘a Little Performative’
Kolek suggested that some celebrities attend Knicks games because they want to be photographed rather than because they follow the team. Asked to name someone, he offered, “Maybe Taylor Swift,” according to Billboard. He said he couldn’t recall seeing her at other games.
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McBride agreed, then warned that Swift’s fans would not appreciate the answer. Kolek acknowledged that her schedule might prevent frequent visits, prompting his teammate to joke that he was trying to soften the criticism. Kolek nevertheless concluded that her attendance seemed “a little performative.”
McBride named Ben Stiller and Tracy Morgan as examples of dependable celebrity supporters. Both have been regular courtside presences beyond the team’s recent championship run.
Swift Explained Her Knicks Connection in a 2014 Interview
Swift was photographed attending the October 29, 2014, game against the Chicago Bulls with Karlie Kloss. Entertainment Tonight‘s coverage from the following day noted that she also sat near Stiller and his son. The Knicks lost that regular-season game 104-80, according to the accompanying Getty Images record.
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In a November 2014 interview with TIME, Swift linked her interest in the team to friendly encounters with then-Knicks player Amar’e Stoudemire and his wife, Alexis, at the Met Gala. She also recalled performing in Madison Square Garden’s halftime talent competition when she was 12 or 13.
When the interviewer pointed out that the Knicks weren’t playing well, Swift replied, “I love them, though. Why does that matter?”
Alana Haim Made Her ‘Stevie Knicks’ Shirt at Home
For Game 4 of the Finals on June 10, Swift joined Este and Alana Haim in blue shirts with orange lettering. Hers read “Stevie Knicks,” combining the team’s name with Stevie Nicks’. Este’s shirt referenced Nicole Kidman, while Alana’s nodded to Nickelback. Mariska Hargitay also wore a shirt matching Swift’s.
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Alana told Vogue that Swift had texted asking her to make the design and came up with the pun herself. She printed the shirts at home, using orange ink with a puff additive on blue tees that cost $2.99 each.
The band later shared an Instagram reel of Swift and the sisters showing off their shirts while dancing to Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Want to Have Fun. Nicole Kidman reposted the clip on her Instagram Stories, as PEOPLE documented.
On the court, New York erased a 29-point deficit to beat the San Antonio Spurs 107-106, the largest comeback on record in an NBA Finals game, according to the NBA. The Knicks then won Game 5 to secure their first championship since 1973.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
