While the World Cup kicked off in the US this week, American attention has been firmly fixed on basketball. The NBA finals could conclude this weekend, with the New York Knicks potentially clinching their first championship since 1973. Alongside Knicks fever comes a surge in fan style, especially courtside, where celebrities have been demonstrating their support in distinctive ways.
Celebrity Courtside Style Peaks
For Wednesday's Game 4, which the Knicks won, Taylor Swift and sisters Este and Alana Haim all wore T-shirts in the Knicks' blue and orange, each featuring a pop culture pun. Swift's shirt read "Stevie Knicks," Este's said "Knickeback," and Alana's read "Knickole Kidman." These were not official merchandise; Vogue reported that Alana had handmade the shirts herself.
Other celebrities opted for less homemade looks. Timothée Chalamet, a longtime Knicks fan, has been sporting custom Chrome Hearts outfits, including a Knicks orange tracksuit and double denim with orange accents, often seen alongside his partner Kylie Jenner. A$AP Rocky wore a satin Saint Laurent interpretation of Knicks orange on the same night, dubbing himself "a good luck charm" for the team.
Basketball as a Fashion Runway
Basketball has long been a fashion-friendly sport, exemplified by the "tunnel fit" trend where players are photographed in avant-garde outfits before games. However, courtside style has now reached a peak, transforming fan culture into a look that captivates the fashion world.
Adam Cheung, a style writer at GQ, agrees: "It feels like the 2026 NBA finals have officially morphed into the ultimate runway, and from what we’ve seen on social media, the basketball feels almost secondary."
Players Set the Fashion Bar
Cheung notes that players like Victor Wembanyama and Jordan Clarkson have become style icons, raising the bar for celebrities. "When the players are treating the arena entrance like Paris fashion week, it sets a mandate for the front row," he says. "Famous people can no longer show up in just anything; they have to match the vibe the athletes are putting out."
Online culture also plays a pivotal role. "Swift and Chalamet perfectly capture the zeitgeist of memeable fashion," Cheung adds. "We are entrenched in an era where fashion is designed to go as viral as possible. It’s no longer just about looking good, it’s about creating imagery that spreads like wildfire across Instagram and TikTok."
If this fashion frenzy also supports the team to glory, so much the better.
