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While Taylor Swift is not known as a basketball fan, she has had a long-running relationship with the NBA. Before she rose to fame, a 12-year-old Swift sang the national anthem before a late-season match-up between the Detroit Pistons and Philadelphia 76ers in 2002. In 2014, Swift stopped by a New York Knicks practice, where she posed for a photo with All-Stars Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire, even getting to dunk the basketball. Swift also has a number of NBA players as fans, including Russell Westbrook, Jimmy Butler, and Dwayne Wade. In addition, Swift has drawn inspiration from the NBA for her songwriting, with one song written after watching a Lakers game.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fan of the NBA | Yes |
| Fan of basketball | Not known |
| NBA fan since | Before her recording career |
| NBA-related songs | Yes |
| Performed at NBA events | Yes |
| Performed the National Anthem at an NBA game in 2002 | Yes |
| Attended New York Knicks practice | Yes |
| Wears NBA jerseys | Yes |
| NBA players who are fans | Russell Westbrook, Jimmy Butler, Dwayne Wade, Kobe Bryant |
| Basketball player | Yes |
| Good at basketball | Yes |
| Position | Shooting guard |
| Good at | Defense, on-the-ball defending |
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What You'll Learn
Taylor Swift's relationship with the NBA
Although Taylor Swift is not known as a basketball fan, she has had a long-running relationship with the NBA that predates her recording career.
Before she rose to fame, Swift performed the national anthem at a Philadelphia 76ers home game in 2002, when she was just 11 or 12 years old. In the years since, she has attended several NBA games, including a Lakers game that inspired one of her songs. In October 2014, Swift visited a New York Knicks practice and posed for photos with All-Stars Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire. During her visit, Stoudemire lifted her up so that she could dunk the basketball.
Swift also has several NBA players among her fans, including Russell Westbrook, who has not kept his love of her music a secret. In 2013, he posted a video of himself singing along to Swift's "22," using his crutch as a guitar. In 2017, Swift recorded a brief congratulatory message for Westbrook after he won the MVP award. In the video, she weaves a tale about how she taught him how to play basketball and how he coined the phrase "shake it off," which set each of them on their respective paths. However, she changes course near the end and admits that they have never actually met. Another NBA player who is a fan of Swift is Jimmy Butler, who has defended his love for her music and listed his three favourite songs of hers in a 2015 video.
Swift has also had NBA players as guests during her concerts. In 2017, Dwayne Wade made an appearance during her Miami show, presenting her with a personalised No. 13 Heat jersey. Two months earlier, Kobe Bryant had surprised her at a Los Angeles concert with a banner commemorating her achievement of setting a Staples Center record for the most sold-out shows.
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Swift's song inspired by a Lakers game
Taylor Swift has had a long-running relationship with the NBA that predates her recording career. Although she is not known as a basketball fan, she has been involved with the NBA since at least 2002, when, at the age of 12, she sang the national anthem before a late-season match-up between the Detroit Pistons and Philadelphia 76ers. Swift also has a number of fans in the NBA, including Russell Westbrook, Jimmy Butler, and Amar’e Stoudemire. In 2013, Westbrook posted a video of himself singing along to Swift's "22" while using his crutch as a guitar. In 2015, Butler was asked to name his three favourite Swift songs, and he chose "I Knew You Were Trouble", "Shake It Off", and "We Are Never Getting Back Together", singing along to the last two. In 2014, Swift visited a New York Knicks practice, where she posed for a photo with Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire, the latter of whom lifted her up so that she could dunk the basketball.
Swift has also been known to incorporate basketball into her music and live performances. During her 1989 Tour, she brought out a surprise guest at every show, including Dwayne Wade, who presented her with a personalised No. 13 Heat jersey, and Kobe Bryant, who surprised her with a banner commemorating her achievement of setting a Staples Center record for the most sold-out shows. Swift even wrote one of her songs, which remains unnamed, after watching a Lakers game.
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Swift's surprise appearance at an NBA practice
Taylor Swift has had a long-running relationship with the NBA, which reportedly predates her recording career. Although she is not known as a basketball fan, she has made surprise appearances at NBA practices and games and has also been supported by NBA stars.
In October 2014, Swift made a surprise appearance at a New York Knicks practice session. She posed for photos with All-Stars Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire, wearing a custom #13 jersey, a headband, and a shooting sleeve on each arm. During the session, Stoudemire lifted Swift so she could dunk the basketball, after which she clapped and jumped to high-five him. She also posed for a photo with Jerome Williams, although it is unclear why he was at the practice.
Swift's surprise appearances are not limited to practices. During her 1989 Tour, she brought out a surprise guest at every concert to break up the routine. In Miami, on October 27, 2017, Dwayne Wade made an appearance, presenting Swift with a personalised No. 13 Heat jersey. Two months earlier, Kobe Bryant had surprised her at a Los Angeles concert with a banner commemorating her record at the Staples Center for the most sold-out shows.
Swift has also been publicly supported by NBA stars. Russell Westbrook is a known admirer of Swift's music. While rehabbing from a torn meniscus in 2013, he posted a video of himself singing along to Swift's "22." In the video, he uses his crutch as a guitar. Jimmy Butler has also defended his love for Swift and her music, and in a 2015 video, he listed his three favourite Swift songs: "I Knew You Were Trouble," "Shake It Off," and "We Are Never Getting Back Together."
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Swift's congratulatory message to Russell Westbrook
Taylor Swift is a huge NBA fan and has had a long-running relationship with the league that predates her recording career. In 2017, she made a rare social media appearance to congratulate Russell Westbrook, who was named Most Valuable Player at the inaugural NBA Awards. In the video, Swift, sporting curly hair and standing in front of an ivy-covered backdrop, provides a fictional account of how the two standouts in their respective fields have helped each other advance their careers. She said, "Russell, it's Taylor. Remember I was the one who taught you to play basketball. I was the one who taught you to dribble, to shoot hoops, and I remember the first time you beat me at basketball. You just have to shake it off, and I got an idea. So essentially, we have each other to thank for these careers. That's why I'm a part of your congratulations video, because we just go back 20 years."
Westbrook, for his part, is also a longtime fan of Swift's. In years past, the basketball star has shared videos of himself singing along to her hits, including "Bad Blood," "22," and even "We Are Never Getting Back Together" while in the audience of one of Taylor Swift's own concerts. In a recent interview with Vogue, Westbrook revealed that he and Swift are friends who share messages with each other. "I did get a special thank-you video," he said. "I'm a big Taylor Swift fan, and she was gracious enough to send a video and congratulate me on my award. I have definitely been to multiple Taylor Swift shows, tours, whatever."
Swift's congratulatory message to Westbrook is a heartwarming example of the mutual admiration and respect between two incredibly successful individuals in their respective fields. It also showcases the unexpected friendships that can form between celebrities and athletes, connecting two worlds that may seem distant from each other. Swift's message not only acknowledges Westbrook's achievements but also adds a playful twist by claiming credit for his success, all while maintaining a sense of humour and humility.
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Swift's thoughts on basketball player, Taj Gibson
Although Taylor Swift is not known as a basketball fan, she has had a long-running relationship with the NBA that predates her recording career. At the age of 12, Swift sang the national anthem before a late-season match-up between the Detroit Pistons and Philadelphia 76ers in 2002. In October 2014, she stopped by a New York Knicks practice and posed for a photo with All-Stars Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire, wearing a custom #13 jersey, a headband, and a shooting sleeve on each arm. Swift also received the ball from Amar’e, who lifted her up so that she could dunk the basketball.
Swift's relationship with the NBA continued as she rewarded Russell Westbrook for his years of fandom by recording a congratulatory message for him when he won the MVP in 2017. In the message, she humorously weaves a tale about how she taught him how to play basketball and how he coined the phrase “shake it off”. In addition, Jimmy Butler is also a longtime fan of Taylor Swift, even defending his love for her on First Take.
While Swift has not publicly expressed her thoughts specifically about Taj Gibson, she does have a connection to him through their mutual association with the NBA. Gibson, a veteran player known for his willingness to do the dirty work on both ends of the court, spent eight years of his NBA career with the Chicago Bulls before being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2017. He shared an emotional message on Instagram, expressing his gratitude to the Bulls and their fans for letting a New York City kid live out his dreams.
Although Swift has not directly mentioned Gibson, there is a connection between them through their mutual appreciation for the NBA and its culture. Swift's surprise collaborations with NBA stars during her 1989 Tour further showcase her interest in basketball culture. During the tour, Dwayne Wade presented her with a personalized No. 13 Heat jersey, and Kobe Bryant surprised her with a banner commemorating her record at the Staples Center.
While Swift's thoughts on Taj Gibson remain unknown, their mutual appreciation for the NBA and its players provide a link between them. Their shared connection to the sport and its community create a shared space, even if their paths have not directly crossed.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Taylor Swift is a huge NBA fan. She even wrote one of her songs after watching a Lakers game.
There is a basketball player called Taylor Swift who is a shooting guard for Claremore. She is quite talented, according to her coach, Mark Campbell.
Taylor Swift has had a long-running relationship with the NBA that predates her recording career. She sang the national anthem before a Detroit Pistons and Philadelphia 76ers game in 2002 when she was 12 years old.
Taylor Swift is a fan of the Los Angeles Lakers.
