Tyler Kolek found himself almost having the shortest championship parade in New York Knicks history.
The second-year guard was in full celebration mode on Thursday (June 18), weaving through fans along the Canyon of Heroes after hopping off his parade float. But the festivities almost came to an abrupt halt when NYPD officers briefly stopped him after apparently mistaking him for an overexcited fan who had snuck past the barricades.
Video of the moment quickly spread online. As officers held Kolek in place, the crowd immediately came to his defense, booing and yelling that the guard was, in fact, a member of the Knicks. "That’s Tyler Kolek. Yo, that’s a player!" a fan shouted.
Kolek looked equally bewildered, gesturing and trying to explain himself as the misunderstanding unfolded. The situation was quickly resolved after Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson stepped in, and officers let him go once they realized who he was. Kolek later went online and joined in on the fun that fans were having with the video on X.
"I swear I'm on the team bro😂😂😂," he wrote.
Kolek played an important part in the Knicks run this season, where he showed out in the NBA Cup Championship last December, posting 14 points, five rebounds, and five assists in 20 minutes off the bench against the San Antonio Spurs. The Knicks later became the first team in NBA history to win both the NBA Cup and the Larry O'Brien Trophy in the same season.
Earlier in the parade, Kolek was already providing comic relief. While livestreaming on Instagram and clutching the NBA Cup trophy, he spotted Finals MVP Jalen Brunson nearby and couldn't resist a joke.
"Y'all see this. This is my real trophy right here," Kolek said while showing off the Cup. Then, nodding toward Brunson and the Larry O'Brien Trophy, he added: "Y'all got that one. I got this one."
Check out more clips of Kolek at the parade below:
