The Knicks waited 53 years for a championship parade, and somehow Tyler Kolek still almost needed to show ID to attend his own party.
During New York’s championship celebration, Kolek was briefly stopped by police along the parade route after officers appeared to mistake him for a fan who had gotten too close to the team. Video of the moment quickly went viral, showing the Knicks guard trying to explain that he was, in fact, supposed to be there. Eventually, team personnel helped clear up the confusion, and Kolek was allowed to continue celebrating.
Cops mistook Tyler Kolek for a fan 😩 #alwaysknicks pic.twitter.com/7LxI29zahb
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) June 18, 2026
Tyler Kolek has to deal with the “A on the group test” comments and then this.
Still a Champion! And a legitimate member of the roster who will be remembered by kids for the rest of their lives. pic.twitter.com/DuryWXLUTe
— Chase Jordan (@goatcollect) June 18, 2026
Kolek handled it with the perfect response afterward, posting:
“I swear I’m on the team bro.”
I swear I’m on the team bro 😂😂😂 https://t.co/7AJyNXAIfz
— Tyler Kolek (@tyler_kolek) June 18, 2026
That line instantly became one of the funniest side stories of the Knicks’ title celebration. Because yes, Kolek may not be Jalen Brunson. He may not be the Finals MVP, the face of the franchise, or the player on every parade poster. But he is on the roster, he got the ring, and apparently he also got the most relatable championship parade moment imaginable.
In a way, it fit perfectly. The Knicks’ parade was pure New York chaos: massive crowds, celebrities, music, emotion, and one backup guard having to convince police he was not just some extremely confident fan in team gear.
While Kolek’s role on the floor was limited during the title run, he played in 62 games during the regular season.
