Taylor Swift is having quite the redemption arc in the NBA world. Just weeks after facing criticism from New York fans for attending a Cleveland Cavaliers playoff game alongside fiancé Travis Kelce, the global superstar was front and center as the New York Knicks pulled off one of the most dramatic victories in NBA Finals history. The singer attended Game 4 between the Knicks and the Spurs at Madison Square Garden and was later seen celebrating the team’s thrilling 107-106 comeback victory. Videos circulating online showed Swift jumping up and down on the court with actress Mariska Hargitay moments after the final buzzer. She was also spotted celebrating with fans as they exited the arena following the historic win.
The moment feels particularly ironic considering the criticism Swift received only a few weeks ago. During the Knicks’ playoff run, many New York fans jokingly accused her of switching sides after she attended a Cavaliers game with Kelce, who has long been a loyal Cleveland sports supporter.
At the time, social media was flooded with jokes questioning Swift’s loyalty to New York. Some fans even playfully accused her of abandoning the Knicks.
Now, those same conversations look very different.
According to reports, Swift has been a Knicks supporter for years. Long before her relationship with Kelce, she was frequently photographed courtside at Knicks games alongside friends including Karlie Kloss, Amanda Seyfried and Justin Long. She has also lived in New York for more than a decade and has often embraced the city’s culture as part of her public identity.
Kelce himself recently clarified that he was never trying to convert Swift into a Cleveland fan. Speaking on his podcast, the NFL star explained that attending Cavaliers games was simply part of sharing something he personally loves. He even admitted that he would be rooting for the Knicks moving forward after Cleveland’s elimination.
Taylor Swift reacts to the Knicks thrilling comeback win!! WOWOWOWOW! pic.twitter.com/sWAlIYcnfy
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 11, 2026
What makes the moment interesting is how quickly public perception changes. A few weeks ago, Swift was being roasted online for allegedly supporting the wrong team. Today, she is being celebrated as part of one of the most memorable nights in Knicks history.
Of course, some people will still argue that celebrities attending sporting events should not become headline news. But Taylor Swift stopped being a normal celebrity years ago. Whether she is attending a football game, an awards show or an NBA Finals matchup, the conversation almost inevitably becomes bigger than the event itself.
And this time, unlike the Cleveland controversy, New York fans probably have no complaints.
After all, it’s hard to be mad at someone celebrating the biggest comeback the NBA Finals has ever seen.