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Arkansas men’s college basketball coach John Calipari was too intimidated to approach pop megastar Taylor Swift at Madison Square Garden for the Knicks-Spurs Game 4 of the NBA Finals earlier this year.
During an interview on the “Eye on College Basketball” podcast on Thursday, Calipari explained that he was embarrassed to go up to Swift and acted like he was on his phone.
“I’m in the back corner just kind of watching, and Taylor Swift was there,” Calipari said, painting a picture of a star-studded “dugout” area where celebrities were mingling at the game. “I was embarrassed to go up to her. She was talking to whoever she was talking to, Adam Sandler and his wife [Jackie].
John Calipari closed down SEC Media Days with me at the third-floor bar last night and shared a hilarious story about how he was too scared to say hello to Taylor Swift during the NBA Finals. The phone detail at the end is incredible. pic.twitter.com/F6GdX105NS
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) October 15, 2026
“Normally I take a picture, and then I send it to my daughters and stuff. I was intimidated. [Swift] came up and was bubbly, and then I’m sitting here at this table. She’s at the other end. Adam and his wife go up. They converse…
“… Chris Rock is with his mom [Rosalie] right there. I’m fine, ‘Chris, how are ya?’ But she walked up. And what I did was this. I took my phone, and I acted like I was on my phone. I wasn’t on my phone, but I acted like I was… intimidated,” Calipari said.
Calipari was then asked by host Matt Norlander if he went to the Sandler-officiated Swift and Travis Kelce wedding, which took place on July 3 at Madison Square Garden.
“I didn’t get invited. I was kind of disappointed, but, you know, things happen,” Calipari joked.
Calipari shared a photo he took with Sandler and his wife while sitting on Celebrity Row for the Game 4 thriller at MSG.
“I got to spend some time with all the Knicks Alums, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock but I was too nervous to introduce myself to Taylor Swift! LOL!” Calipari said at the time.
The Knicks overcame a 29-point deficit — the largest in NBA Finals history — and OG Anunoby tipped in a missed 3-pointer by Jalen Brunson with 1.2 seconds remaining to give New York the lead en route to a 107-106 victory over the Spurs. Swift was joined by singer sisters Este Haim and Alana Haim and was among the thousands enjoying the wild celebration.
The Knicks beat the Spurs in four of five games to win their first NBA title in 53 years.