Tyler Kolek's Girlfriend Recalls Police Encounters During Knicks Parade
Lexi Sousa shares that Knicks guard Tyler Kolek was mistaken for a fan by police not once, but twice during the team's championship celebration.
New York Knicks player Tyler Kolek's girlfriend, Lexi Sousa, revealed that the guard was twice mistaken for a fan by police officers during the team's championship parade in New York City. Sousa shared the anecdote during a recent interview, noting that the incidents are not widely known.
Kolek was running along the parade route on June 18, 2026, interacting with fans while holding a drink, when he was approached by two officers. Video from the event showed one officer appearing to signal negatively while the other turned Kolek around and directed him away from the area. Other attendees intervened to inform the officers that Kolek was a member of the championship team, leading the officers to disengage.
Kolek himself alluded to the encounter on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, responding to a post that claimed "security almost tackled" him by writing, "I swear I’m on the team bro."
Kolek did not participate in the 2026 NBA Finals, where the Knicks secured their first championship in 53 years by defeating the Spurs in five games. The guard, a second-round pick from Marquette in the 2024 NBA Draft, spent the 2024-25 season with the Westchester Knicks, the team's G-League affiliate. He averaged 4.4 points and 2.7 assists per game last season. The Knicks are scheduled to begin their 2026-27 regular season on October 20, hosting the 76ers.