New York Knicks point guard Tyler Kolek is hoping NFL legend Tom Brady will join celebrity row next season.
“He’s been there before but he has to come more often,” Kolek told Page Six at the 2026 ESPY Awards Wednesday in New York City of Brady, who attended two games in November 2024.
“I grew up a Patriots fan, when he left I kind of bandwagoned and went to the Buccaneers because I wasn’t really a Patriots fan, I was a Tom Brady fan,” he added.
Kolek, 25, went on to praise the loyal stars on Madison Square Garden’s celebrity row — which includes Timothée Chalamet, Spike Lee, Tracy Morgan and Ben Stiller.
“[Chalamet] was there last year throughout the whole playoff run so obviously we knew he was going to be here this year on the road, at home…” he said of the “Marty Supreme” actor.
He added, “All the fans — Spike, Tracy, Ben — all those guys, they come to the home games, to the away games… It’s cool seeing all the support we get.”
As for taking home the championship — the first time since 1973 — he said, “It felt amazing, 53 years, we felt it. Not only did we [feel] it, but the whole city felt it, the whole fan base, so it’s been pretty special.”
But the team doesn’t plan to rest much in the off-season, as they have their eyes set on back-to-back championships.
“It starts right now, it starts in the summer,” Kolek said. “All the work we put in leading up to the season. … I know we play deep into the summer, but we’re getting back after it now.”
“We’re getting ready to go for next year,” he enthused.
Kolek wasn’t the only Knicks player to attend the 2026 ESPY Awards — which is presented by ESPN — as teammates Karl-Anthony Towns, Jalen Brunson, Jose Alvarado, Mikal Bridges also made appearances.
The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the NBA finals.
The Knicks celebrated at the ticker-tape parade in Manhattan, where Kolek was hysterically mistaken for a fan when he tried to get back on his float.
He said, “I was just enjoying myself, having a good time… It’s all good!”
Celebrations following the victory at New York City hot spots included Flyfish Club, Chez Margaux and more.
