Thousands of New York Knicks fans, dressed in blue and orange jerseys, shorts, hats, and necklaces, converged in downtown Manhattan on Thursday for a lively ticker-tape parade honoring the team's NBA championship victory. The celebration drew a diverse crowd of parents, children, longtime devotees, newcomers, and several celebrities.
Festivities Along Church Street
Along Church Street, which runs parallel to the parade route, fans lit marijuana joints, drank Fireball whiskey and Coronas, all within view of amused New York City police officers. Some fans climbed atop police cruisers to pose for photos, prompting laughter and questions from passersby about whether such behavior was permitted. One man atop a cruiser exclaimed, "I'm just glad to be a part of this victory! I'm glad to be a part of history!"
Wesley Chow, 27, from Astoria, Queens, became a Knicks fan in 2012 during "Linsanity," when Asian American player Jeremy Lin emerged as a fan favorite. "Seeing someone that looked like me play in the league was hella inspiring," Chow said, standing among thousands hoping to catch a glimpse of the players. "The people out here right now, you got people from all backgrounds, all neighborhoods, all to celebrate one thing. It's crazy."
Parade Route and Attendance
The NYPD reported that viewing areas reached capacity by 7:25 a.m., with access to Broadway blocked off. The parade began at 10 a.m., moving from Battery Park to City Hall. Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who had predicted the event would be one of the city's largest, danced on a float alongside Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns. Teammate OG Anunoby mingled with fans, holding both the NBA Cup in-season championship trophy and a bottle of tequila. Former Knicks player Carmelo Anthony danced on a nearby float, while celebrity fans Spike Lee, Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, and Timothée Chalamet also attended.
Children climbed atop cars to chant expletives aimed at San Antonio Spurs player Victor Wembanyama. Vendors sold T-shirts emblazoned with phrases like "CHAMPIONS," "King Brunson," and "suck my Knick!" from carts and suitcases.
Fan Stories and Sentiments
A fan named Alan returned to New York for the first time in nearly three years to join the crowd. He carried a Polaroid camera, offering photos for a few dollars each, mostly capturing mothers with sons and fathers with daughters. "I just wanted to give them a memory of the day," he said.
Erica, another fan, walked along Church Street with her young son Milan. Originally from Italy, she had been a casual Knicks fan for 20 years but fell in love with the team after seeing how happy it made her son. She remarked that the Knicks brought out the best in New York. "Everybody is happy for one cause and we need that," she said.
John Rivera, born and raised in New York, was 13 when the Knicks last won the championship in 1973. The team clinched the finals series this time on his 69th birthday. "I was there for the Ewing era, when they kept losing against the Bulls. I was there in '99 when I thought they were gonna win it. I was there through it all. I always kept the faith though," he said. Rivera worked for NYC transit authority for 30 years before retiring to Florida. He flew back for a friend's funeral and the Puerto Rican Day parade, and being among Knicks fans reminded him of his love for the city. "It makes me feel wanted, it makes me feel like a part of the city again," he added.
Barbara Etheredge, 33, from Newark, New Jersey, stood on a power box with friends hanging from traffic signs. A new Knicks fan, she fell in love with the team through her boyfriend, who was among fans commandeering a sanitation truck and chanting "LET'S GO KNICKS." "Everyone out here strangers, but we family now," she said of the crowd. Her loyalty to the Knicks mirrors her commitment to her boyfriend: "He's not going nowhere. I'm done. If he's a Knicks fan I'm staying with them forever. I'm loyal!"
Special Moments
The celebration also featured the viral "Baklava Guy," previously seen giving out his dessert outside Madison Square Garden. Roy Donk, owner of Good Baklava, distributed baklava to fans at the parade, telling CBS, "There's just special moments in New York history which we're living right now, and I usually sell it, but there's no chance of selling it right now."
Benny Tuchman, a lifelong fan from Westchester, observed the Shabbos with family on the evening the Knicks won Game 5. "We had to wait until the second quarter to watch," he recalled, laughing. When they turned on the TV, the Knicks were down 15 points, but he knew the team was capable of comebacks. He attended the parade knowing he might not see the players up close, but said, "This is why we came. I just wanted to see the people. I just wanted to see everyone happy." His friend added, "This is what makes sports great," and another chimed in, "It's the equalizer."
