Join our FREE personalized newsletter for news, trends, and insights that matter to everyone in America

Newsletter
New

Cops Stop Knicks’ Tyler Kolek Thinking He’s A Fan During Parade

Card image cap

Knicks guard Tyler Kolek had a run-in with police after they seemingly mistook him for a fan during the team’s championship parade in New York on Thursday.

The 25-year-old Kolek was running along the parade route and greeting fans while holding a Michelob Ultra in one hand when he was stopped by two police officers who grabbed him.

One officer was seen shaking his head, appearing to say “no,” while another turned him around an pointed for him to leave the area.

Cops mistook Tyler Kolek for a fan #alwaysknickspic.twitter.com/7LxI29zahb

— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) June 18, 2026

That’s when others intervened to inform the officers that Kolek was a member of the championship team.

The officers backed down after that.

Kolek, who did not look happy, was seen saying something to them as he ran off.

e5d34e998dbf70de687bb995b706655c
Knicks guard Tyler Kolek was stopped by police after they mistook him for a fan during the team’s championship parade in New York on Thursday, June 18, 2026. X/Kimberley Martin
66bfeadf451e7eb95d49f7d8e0951437
Knicks guard Tyler Kolek was stopped by police after they mistook him for a fan during the team’s championship parade in New York on Thursday, June 18, 2026. X/Kimberley Martin

“I swear I’m on the team bro,” Kolek wrote on X, responding to post that said, “security almost tackled” him.

At one point, Kolek went live on Instagram and showed himself holding the Knicks’ NBA Cup trophy that they won after defeating the Spurs 124-113 in the league’s mid-season tournament in December.

“This my real trophy right here. Y’all got that one I got this one,” Kolek told Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson, who was named MVP of the NBA Finals, referring to the Larry O’Brien championship trophy.

“This my real trophy right here. Y’all got that one I got this one”

Tyler Kolek to Jalen Brunson while holding the NBA Cup trophy

(via tyler_kolek/IG) pic.twitter.com/cu1gD5gOyF

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) June 18, 2026
fb99a6f176391f362696c84ce452a028
New York Knicks guard Tyler Kolek (C) at the team’s championship parade in New York on Thursday, June 18, 2026. Stephen Yang for NY Post

In the NBA Cup final, Kolek finished with 14 points, five rebounds and five assists.


Here’s the latest coverage on the Knicks’ historic ticker-tape championship parade


Kolek did not play in any of the 2026 NBA Finals games, in which New York won four of five against the Spurs to clinch their first championship in 53 years.

He was a second round pick out of Marquette by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Kolek spent the 2024-25 season with the Westchester Knicks, the Knicks’ G-League affiliate team.