The New York Knicks clinched an impressive 94-90 win over the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center on Saturday evening to clinch their first NBA championship in 53 years.
The Knicks, who had dug themselves into a customary double-digit hole, clawed their way back to notch another comeback to clinch the series 4-1, sparking scenes of wild celebration in New York.
Knicks Release NBA Championship Parade Plans
Clips of fans celebrating in the streets of New York went viral across social media on Saturday night, and the city’s mayor, Zohran Mamdani, revealed on X that championship parade would be held on Thursday, June 18, at 10 a.m. ET. The parade will culminate in a City Hall ceremony.
Mamdani further revealed that City Hall and various municipal buildings around the city will be lit up in blue and orange on Thursday to celebrate the team’s win.
“Parade. Thursday. Manhattan,” Mamdani added.
This will be the Knicks’ first championship parade, as they didn’t celebrate their previous titles in 1973 and 1970 with traditional ticker-tape parades.
After the team’s extraordinary NBA Finals win, fans vandalized property all over the city and a 17-year-old fan was reportedly shot in the foot near 42nd Street and Broadway. In addition, four people were stabbed or slashed as others clashed with police. According to the NYPD, 10 police officers were injured during the chaotic night.
By the end of the night, 63 people had been arrested for various charges, including criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, criminal possession of a weapon, and assault on a police officer.
Five yellow school buses that were transporting football fans from the World Cup game between Brazil and Morocco at New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium) were vandalized and one of them was even torched by the celebrating fans.
The jubilant scenes on the streets of New York led to Knicks owner James Dolan interrupting Josh Hart’s news conference, urging the team’s fans to be calm.
“We need to tell everybody in New York that we know that they’re celebrating, we want them to have a great time,” Dolan said. “Please be safe. Don’t get hurt, don’t hurt anybody.”
The Knicks went on an extraordinary run during the playoffs, winning 15 of 16 games and turning the streets of New York into a constant party. Led by Jalen Brunson, the Knicks only dropped one game in the series against the plucky Spurs to etch their names in the annals of NBA history.
