Over the years, NBA players and politicians have crossed paths in some pretty memorable ways. Remember when LeBron James tweeted about voting rights? Or when Stephen Curry visited the Obama White House? These interactions always get people talking.
Well, the latest one involves a former New York Knicks player. He had a simple reaction to the city’s newest mayor doing something unexpected.
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Recent Gesture Has Gone Viral
The NYC area was bracing for a serious hit from a winter storm expected to dump 8 to 12 inches of snow. And sure enough, it did. The snow came down hard. It blocked important roads all across the city. That is when New York’s newest mayor decided to take matters into his own hands.
On Sunday, videos started circulating on social media showing Zohran Mamdani doing something you don’t see every day from a city leader. There he was on Myrtle Avenue and Franklin Avenue, shovel in hand, helping dig out a car that got stuck in the snow by the roadside.
As the video went viral, former Knicks player Taj Gibson stumbled upon it while scrolling through X. He didn’t write a long message or give a speech; he simply reposted it with a two-word caption: “That’s real!!!”
Mamdani’s interactions with the Knicks world are not new.
Back in November, while he was still a Democratic mayoral nominee, he attended a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden against the Chicago Bulls. He was sitting high in the arena, and he blended right in with the crowd.
He was wearing a black Knicks cap and a Josh Hart jersey layered over a white collared shirt. He watched the game alongside aides and comedian The Kid Mero. The Knicks went on to win that matchup 128–116. This added another memorable moment to his growing connection with the team and its fanbase.
That connection deepened even further on New Year’s Day. It was when Mamdani officially took the oath as the 112th mayor of New York City. During his inauguration speech, he spoke about the responsibility of city leadership to serve the public with maximum effort and heart.
Here’s the cool part. He actually mentioned Jalen Brunson and how the Knicks point guard plays his heart out every night. Mamdani said that’s the kind of effort he wants from everyone working for the city.
“We expect greatness from the cooks wielding 1,000 spices, from those who stride out on our Broadway stages, and from our starting point guard at Madison Square Garden. Let us demand the same from those who work in the government,” Mamdani said during his speech.
As for Gibson, the veteran forward has had a long and respected NBA career. He was drafted 26th overall by the Chicago Bulls in 2009 and went on to play for seven teams over 16 seasons. This also included memorable stints with the Knicks. He has also suited up for the Thunder, Timberwolves, Wizards, Pistons, and Hornets. As of January 2026, Gibson has not appeared in a single game this season.
But even off the court, Gibson knows what is real when he sees it.
