An NBA reporter for The Athletic has hit back at claims that Taylor Swift is the New York Knicks’ ‘fakest celebrity fan,’ and described her Finals support as genuine.

His words arrive after Knicks guard Tyler Kolek and team-mate Miles ‘Deuce’ McBride named Swift as the team’s fakest celebrity supporter.

The pop icon made Madison Square Garden headlines for her Finals support in June, as the Knicks clawed back a 29-point deficit versus the San Antonio Spurs.

‘It would be the greatest performance I’ve ever seen’ reveals NBA reporter amid Taylor Swift ‘fake’ Knicks fan claims

On Thursday, Kolek and McBride were playing NBA 2K on a TikTok livestream, when viewers asked for them to name the Knicks’ fakest celebrity supporter.

“Maybe Taylor Swift?” mused Kolek. “I don’t know if I’ve seen her at any other games. The guard’s Knicks team-mate, McBride, then added: “I would agree. Swifties [are] not going to like that answer.”

During the Knicks’ comeback victory versus the Spurs, NBA reporter Harper claimed on The Athletic’s live show that he ‘kept his eye’ on two celebrity fans at the Garden, one being Swift.

“I was in the building and, from where I was, I could see her in the front row… they have the media way up high. I kept my eye on two celebrity fans during the whole comeback,” began Harper.

“That was Taylor Swift and Fat Joe. Those are the two people that I paid attention to, because when it was a 26, 27-point game at half-time, I saw Taylor Swift and the friends she was with go into the tunnel.

“I was making the joke - not a chance she comes back out. Like, there’s no way,” continued Harper, who questioned whether Swift would stay at the Garden amid the Spurs’ dominant first-half.

“And then she came back out and cheered. I watched Taylor Swift be a fan in that game. If she was faking it, that’s one of the greatest performances I’ve ever seen in my life. She was into it,” concluded Harper.

New York Knicks release statement defending Taylor Swift and Madison Square Garden rules explain her Finals stay

Per the BBC, the Knicks defended Swift on Friday, claiming: “Taylor Swift has been a Knicks fan for many years, and has a long history with Madison Square Garden.

“We are incredibly appreciative of her support of the organisation,” concluded the statement. Swift married NFL star Travis Kelce at the Garden in July, a month after her Finals appearance.

While NBA reporter Harper’s support of Swift is strong, rules at the Knicks’ venue for ‘Celebrity Row’ visitors could explain the American’s decision to stay after the Spurs’ strong first-half.

Per ESPN, the NBA franchise has established ‘unofficial rules’ that all celebrities, including Swift, must follow, to prevent having future Knicks invitations revoked.

One such rule is that the visiting celebrity must remain in their seat for the duration of the NBA game, ‘win or blowout.’

In 2023, Emily Ratajkowski left her seat during the Knicks’ clash with the Miami Heat; the American model was later denied ‘comped’ tickets for the franchise’s next NBA outing.

Visitors on ‘Celebrity Row’ who leave the Garden early aren’t banned from the venue; instead, they must purchase tickets like any other Knicks fan.

The franchise also requests fans on the row to ‘show up presentable for camera,’ with the expectation being that they will be displayed on the jumbotron and film promotions at Madison Square Garden.