The NBA Playoffs truly do bring out the stars. And not just in the Big Apple.
Pop star Taylor Swift and fiancé Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs were spotted sitting courtside at Game 3 of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Eastern Conference finals series against the New York Knicks. New York entered Saturday with a 2-0 series lead. In the fourth quarter of the matchup, Kelce chugged a beer on camera as the crowd cheered on.
The 36-year-old Kelce has strong ties to the area. He was born in Westlake, Ohio, before starring in football, basketball and baseball at Cleveland Heights High School. The 36-year-old Swift was born in West Reading, Pennsylvania, one state to the east. Kelce was a two-star recruit in football before taking a scholarship with the University of Cincinnati. He’s since established himself as one of the best tight ends in NFL history, and gained even more fame after he began dating Swift in 2023.
Although Swift may be the bigger global star between herself and Kelce, the latter may be the bigger basketball fan of the two. Back in 2024, Kelce and his older brother, Jason, were recognized with custom bobbleheads from the Cleveland Cavaliers, which were given away ahead of a Cavaliers matchup against the Boston Celtics. The siblings’ bobbleheads were outfitted with the Cavaliers’ black statement jerseys, with the two sporting their respective NFL jersey numbers (No. 87 for Travis, No. 62 for Jason). The Cavs donated $10,000 to the Heights Schools Foundation Initiatives, an organization Travis and Jason both support.
Much has been made about the star-studded crowds that have shown up for the Knicks’ home games throughout this playoff run, including big names such as Timothée Chalamet, Spike Lee and Tracy Morgan. But arguably none are bigger than Swift, the global star who has sold millions of albums and regularly fills football stadiums when she goes on tour.
Swift and Kelce announced their engagement last August. Over their time together, Swift has become a fixture at Chiefs games, often enjoying the matchups from a suite with Patrick Mahomes’ wife, Brittany. Kelce recently signed a one-year, $12 million contract to remain with the Chiefs for another season, but the 13-year NFL veteran is expected to retire from football sooner rather than later.