Ruin the friendship? Knicks backup guards could be down bad after disrespecting Taylor Swift

If Swift was there for the 17-win seasons, she deserves to take up a blank space on Celebrity Row when the team is finally good. Especially weeks before she rented out Madison Square Garden for her wedding to Travis Kelce.

ESPN's Monica McNutt had to deal with angry Swifties when a hot mic caught her ripping Swift when she thought she was off the air. "She's not a Knicks fan," McNutt said. "Get out of here, girl!" Eventually, Jalen Brunson had to come to her defense during the Knicks' title celebration.

Tyler Kolek and Deuce McBride's fearless comments could hurt them

Kolek and McBride are getting attention for the wrong reason in a season where both players are in contract years. McBride becomes a free agent after the season, and the Knicks have paused all negotiations on a possible contract extension. The Knicks have a $2.5M team option on Kolek for 2027-28.

The casual comments shouldn't affect their futures, especially with McBride shooting 44.1 percent on three-pointers. But the Knicks are owned by James Dolan, a man famously petty and vindictive toward enemies real or perceived. He's also a man who has pledged to stay below the second luxury-tax apron, which means there's going to be some Knicks not returning next season.

Dolan is a man who values celebrity, and loyalty to his various businesses, which surely includes high-profile rentals of his arena. There's a far better chance Swift is regularly at MSG in Knicks gear in four years than either Kolek or McBride.

The players won't be out of the woods without an apology to the Swifties. Otherwise, the Knicks and their backup guards may never, ever get back together after this season.