Dave Portnoy's Explosive Rant: Why He Hates Every A-Lister at Knicks Game
Dave Portnoy has bad blood with Taylor Swift and the rest of the “obnoxious” A-listers who were seated in celebrity row for Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals.
The Barstool Sports creator railed against Wednesday’s star-studded game between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs in a new Instagram video, noting that he has “always hated New York sports teams” and their fans.
“I don’t know if it’s my personality or just me being a Boston fan, but … watching their fans celebrate in that arena — people who aren’t even basketball fans — like, just made my skin crawl on a level I can’t even describe,” the 49-year-old told his followers.
Portnoy specifically name-dropped Ben Stiller, Timothée Chalamet, Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld as people he “hate[s]” at the Madison Square Garden matchup before going in on Taylor Swift’s courtside presence.
“I’m sick of her. Now [Kylie] Jenner is her friend?” he added, referencing Swift hugging the reality star after the Knicks defeated the Spurs 107-106. “The whole thing, I hate. I hate it all.”
“Scooter Braun, I’ve hated him. Big Tits McGee [Sydney] Sweeney — where is she from? Hate her,” Portnoy continued of the couple, who attended with Braun’s family.
He went on to slam Hailey Bieber for being at the game with Tate McRae, pointing out that the singer, 22, is from Canada.
“Spike Lee, I hate him,” Portnoy ranted. “Mariska from ‘NYPD’ ‘Law and Order’ hugging [point guard Janel] Brunson, hate her. I hate everybody on celebrity row, second row, third row, in the suites. I hate them all. I just hate New York sports fans. They’re so obnoxious.”
Social media users clapped back at Portnoy’s diatribe, with one joking that the B on his baseball cap “stands for baby” and another dubbing him “bitter.”
Amid the comments labeling “hater” Portnoy’s “crash out” “salty,” fans pointed out, “Come on … you have to admit that was an all-timer game.”
One wrote, “Hate all you want, that was THE BEST comeback in NBA Finals History. Knicks fans or not, that game was amazing!”
Portnoy doubled down via Instagram Stories on Thursday with an “honest question.”
He asked, “What percentage of Knicks celebrity fans would also show up in Lakers gear for Lakers celebrity row if the Lakers were in the Finals? I think it’s over 50 percent.”
The Knicks won Wednesday’s historic game by one point after making the biggest comeback in Finals history.
Brunson, 29, and his teammates will take on the Spurs again Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET for Game 5.
