Even renowned athletes can experience cases of mistaken identity. During the New York Knicks’ NBA Championship parade on Thursday, June 18, guard Tyler Kolek found himself in an unusual situation when New York Police Department officers seemingly confused him for a spectator.
ESPN reporter Kimberley A. Martin posted a video on X capturing Kolek, 25, as he enthusiastically interacted with fans along the parade route, pausing to high-five supporters as he joined in the celebrations.
At one point in the video, two officers approached Kolek and appeared to attempt to remove him from the event, mistaking him for a fan. Kolek can be seen trying to explain that he is actually a player for the Knicks.
Martin captioned the video with, “Cops mistook Tyler Kolek for a fan 😩 #alwaysknicks.” The incident quickly gained traction online, with many fans humorously commenting on the mix-up.
One user on X wrote, “Get this man a Knicks roster PLEASE!!! Put some respect on Tyler Kolek’s name 😩.” Kolek himself took the situation lightly, joking in a post on X, “I swear I’m on the team bro 😂😂😂.”
Tyler Kolek. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
The championship parade was a significant celebration for the Knicks, who secured a 94-90 victory over the Spurs in Game 5 on Saturday, June 13, capturing their first championship title since 1973.
Following the milestone win, Knicks owner James Dolan revealed that the team received an invitation to the White House to meet President Donald Trump. “We just received an invitation from the White House, which we accepted,” Dolan stated during a WFAN Sports Radio interview on Wednesday, June 17, adding, “We still have to figure out the details.”
Taylor Swift, known for her interest in both music and sports, attended Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals. Swift, 36, made a surprise visit to Madison Square Garden in New York City on Wednesday, June 10, to watch the Knicks face the San Antonio Spurs. She showed her support for the home team by wearing Knicks gear.
In a previous discussion, Dolan mentioned asking his team to make sacrifices for a competitive edge, suggesting they abstain from sex. “I had this idea that maybe you should give up sex for the next 10 weeks,” Dolan said on the Monday, June 15 episode of the “Roommates Show” podcast hosted by the Knicks’ Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. “You don’t have to give up sex for the next 10 weeks — but, like the Spartans, you know what Spartans are? They denied themselves, right? So that they can have an edge. Get the edge.”
He added, “Go home, talk to your wives and tell them — don’t tell them you’re not gonna have sex, don’t tell them it was my idea — but let them know what this is gonna be like, what your commitment is gonna be like, and how they’re gonna have to sacrifice too.”
