New York Knicks point guard Tyler Kolek expects NFL legend Tom Brady to join the celebrity ranks next season.
“He’s been there before, but he’s got to come more often,” Kolek told Page Six of Brady, who watched two games in November 2024, at the 2026 ESPY Awards in New York City on Wednesday.
“I grew up a Patriots fan. When he left, I kind of piggybacked and went to the Buccaneers because I wasn’t really a Patriots fan, I was a Tom Brady fan,” he added.
Korek, 25, praised the loyal stars who lined up at Madison Square Garden’s celebrity line, including Timothée Chalamet, Spike Lee, Tracy Morgan and Ben Stiller.
“(Chalamet) was there for the entire playoffs last year, so obviously we knew he would be here again this year, on the road and at home…” he said of the “Marty Supreme” actor.
He added: “The fans, Spike, Tracy, Ben, they come to our home games, they come to our away games… it’s great to see the support we have.”
“It’s been a great feeling for 53 years. We felt it. Not only did we feel it, but the whole city felt it, the whole fan base felt it, so it was pretty special,” he said of bringing home his first championship since 1973.
However, the team is looking to win back-to-back championships, so they don’t plan on taking much time off during the offseason.
“It starts now. It starts in the summer,” Kolek said. “All the effort we put into the season. … We know we’re going to play until the end of the summer, but now we’re getting it back.”
“We are preparing for next year,” he said with enthusiasm.
Kolek wasn’t the only Knicks player to attend the 2026 ESPY Awards, hosted by ESPN, as teammates Karl-Anthony Towns, Jalen Brunson, Jose Alvarado and Mikal Bridges also attended.
The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
The Knicks celebrated with a ticker tape parade in Manhattan, where Kolek was mistaken for a hysterical fan as he tried to return to his float.
he said: “I was just having fun and having a good time…it’s all good!”
Post-win celebrations at New York City hotspots included Fly Fish Club, Chez Margaux, and more.
