New York City is buzzing after the Knicks brought home the NBA championship for the first time in 53 years, and city leaders are already making big plans to celebrate.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani wasted no time after Saturday night’s victory, posting just three words to his constituents early Sunday morning: “PARADE THURSDAY MANHATTAN.”
The Knicks pulled off yet another remarkable comeback, defeating the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals — a road win that ended decades of heartbreak for millions of fans across the city’s five boroughs.
Head coach Mike Brown was still processing the moment when he spoke with reporters after the final buzzer. “To have the fans that we have in New York City and be able to bring home a championship after all these years is absolutely amazing. It’s a surreal feeling,” he said.
Brown added, “I mean, I don’t know how long it’s been since that final buzzer went off but I still don’t believe it. I’m pinching myself.”
The championship celebration is expected to be massive, befitting the country’s largest sports market. The win also comes during a packed weekend of major events in the region. New York New Jersey stadium — a facility jointly shared by two longtime rivals — hosted its first-ever game Saturday, a 1-1 draw between Morocco and Brazil in World Cup soccer action. The match wrapped up around the same time the Knicks and Spurs were tipping off.
The post-game atmosphere in the city turned chaotic in some areas. Hundreds of people rushed a convoy of roughly 15 shuttle buses in Times Square after they had dropped off fans from the soccer match. One of the buses was set ablaze during the unrest, which saw thousands of New Yorkers flooding the streets. A teenager also suffered a gunshot wound during the disorder.
Thursday’s victory parade will coincide with another major regional sporting event — the U.S. Open golf tournament is set to begin the same day in Southampton. To handle the expected surge of golf fans, the Long Island Rail Road has built a temporary train platform right next to the golf venue.
