The vibes and sounds of the Knicks’ NBA championship parade: ‘A magnificent thing to witness’

New Yorkers, Zohran Mamdani knows how long you have waited for this moment.

The New York mayor spoke to 53 years of pain, angst, frustration, patience, and, at last, vindication during his speech in front of City Hall after the Knicks’ championship parade Thursday. He spoke to a city that waited generations — in each of its five boroughs and all of its surrounding areas — for this celebration.

“For 53 long years we have watched, and we have waited,” Mamdani said. “We have watched from nosebleeds and through gritted teeth, on televisions in the windows of electronic stores, and from projectors balanced on fire escapes.

“We have watched alone in our apartments with our heads in our hands, shoulder to shoulder at bars where the signal flickers, alongside friends and family who we wish, more than anything, could be here today, sharing this moment.”

Mamdani, 34, delivered his address after the Knicks paraded down the hallowed Canyon of Heroes. Before bestowing the keys to the city upon its newest champions, he paused to honor everyone who came before them.

He retraced the arc of Knicks history. The memories of the 1970 and 1973 championships won by Walt Frazier and Willis Reed. John Starks soaring over Michael Jordan. Patrick Ewing hammering home dunks against the Indiana Pacers. Spike Lee leaning over the sideline to challenge Reggie Miller face to face.

The mayor noted that every summit was followed by another climb, each concluding with the same cruel ending: a dream unrealized.

From Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire to the lean years of Langston Galloway, Lance Thomas, Kristaps Porziņģis, and Toney Douglas, Mamdani acknowledged them all. Through every 20-win season and rebuilding year, the fans remained.

Even when, as Mamdani recalled, the Knicks trailed by 29 in the second half of Game 4 against the San Antonio Spurs — who had a 99.6% chance of winning in that moment — the fans stayed. Because going against the odds is who New Yorkers are.

“It’s in that 0.4% that the Knicks do what New Yorkers have always done,” Mamdani told the crowd. “When we are told something is impossible, we find a way, we win.”

Mamdani understood how long they had waited.

“We waited without ever knowing if this day would come,” Mamdani said. “We waited because we knew deep down in our sick, suffering hearts that it would. New York City, this team has done it.

“The New York Knicks are NBA champions.”

Here are other notable notes, quotes, and events from the championship parade:

Moments

Parade packs out

A little more than two hours before the parade began, the free viewing pens were already filled to capacity. The NYPD posted on X that “All viewing pens are full. No one else will be allowed in the viewing area. As a reminder, if you leave the viewing pens, you will not be allowed reentry.”

KNICKS PARADE UPDATE:

All viewing pens are full. No one else will be allowed in the viewing area.

As a reminder, if you leave the viewing pens, you will not be allowed reentry.

There are no trains stopping south of Canal St in Manhattan. pic.twitter.com/HDzR8l4Azb

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) June 18, 2026

The department was out in full-fledged force to handle the crowd. Terry Monahan, former chief of department for the NYPD, noted on NBC 4 that when the New York Giants paraded down the Canyon of Heroes in 2012, about 4,000 officers were needed. In 2009, when the Yankees did it, about 2,500 were necessary. On Thursday, he said that the number was about 10,000. The sharp increase came after several nights of celebration in Manhattan following Knicks games produced multiple arrests due to unruly behavior. While full arrest numbers won’t be known until the NYPD releases a statement, the parade at least appeared to be relatively celebratory and safe on the broadcast.

Celebrity row shows up

The full-fledged celebrity row contingent was out, bouncing around parade floats. Tracy Morgan, Spike Lee, Timothée Chalamet, Mariska Hargitay, Fat Joe, Ben Stiller and others were seen at various stages along the route. Lee, an Oscar-winning filmmaker who has arguably been the world’s most famous Knicks fan for more than three decades, spoke with MSG Network about how special this moment was.

“I’ve never been to a parade ever,” Lee said jubilantly. “But I’m glad it’s this one.”

Knicks legends share in glory

The Knicks alumni base was also out in full force. Ewing, Starks, Anthony, Frazier and Allan Houston, among a host of others, were all shown parading alongside the current Knicks. Ewing got his own car to carry him through the parade while he waved to fans.

Frazier, the star point guard from the 1970 and ’73 championship teams, led the parade. He rode at the front in a top-down 1952 Chrysler Imperial Parade Phaeton, one of three ever built, according to Reddit. Chrysler built three parade cars in 1952, one of which was donated to the city. It comes out only on special occasions.

“This has exceeded any expectations I ever saw that we had,” Frazier said. “I mean, when we played, everybody was from the USA, so mainly our audience was black and white, but now they’re Hispanics, they’re Chinese, all different races that follow the NBA.

“It’s just been a magnificent thing to witness.”

Frazier never got a trophy parade. After the 1973 championship, Frazier and the Knicks received a civic ceremony outside City Hall and commemorative medals, but no parade or keys to the city. He told MSG Network that back in the day, that was enough.

“That day was a lot of hoopla for us,” Frazier said. “Maybe we had 200 people here and some dignitaries, so we were very happy with that”

Players enjoy the moment

The players took the opportunity to connect with the city. Mitchell Robinson drove his own personal white-and-orange truck behind one of the floats, while Josh Hart, Jordan Clarkson, Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson all took the chance to hop off their floats and walk with fans.

Brunson brought the Larry O’Brien trophy with him, and more than a few fans were allowed to reach out and touch it. A moment, he later told MSG, that was fun but not his “best idea.”

“It makes everything worth it.”

Tyler Kolek didn’t have as pleasant an experience as he was briefly mistaken for a fan and rushed by NYPD officials.

Cops mistook Tyler Kolek for a fan 😩 #alwaysknicks pic.twitter.com/7LxI29zahb

— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) June 18, 2026

All the Knicks jerseys were displayed at City Hall for the ceremony. Curiously, Dillon Jones was displayed with a 33, matching his number on an NBA.com roster that has since been corrected. As most New Yorkers know, the Knicks’ No. 33 hangs on a banner honoring Ewing. Jones wore No. 1 this season.

Speeches and quotes

New York City officials

The Knicks trailed by double digits in every Finals game against the Spurs, yet won the series, 4-1. City Comptroller Mark Levine likened the Knicks’ propensity for comebacks to some of the most famous “comebacks” in New York history.

“We do not back down, no matter how far behind we are,” Levine said. “We were down on 9/11, and we came back. We were down in (Hurricane) Sandy, and we came back. We were down during COVID, and we came back. We were down against the Cavs, against the Spurs … and we came back. We are New York. We don’t stop fighting. You should be afraid of us. We are the champs because of the New York Knicks.”

James Dolan

The Knicks owner mused that many of the faces he saw in the crowd weren’t alive long enough to endure the entirety of the wait between Knicks championships. “When I look out over the Knick fans here, you all don’t look older than 53 years. Some of you weren’t waiting 53; you weren’t born yet, but we’re very, very happy to have brought you a championship. I’m very proud of our team.”

Leon Rose

The Knicks president congratulated coach Mike Brown and his staff for meeting the championship-or-bust expectations set for them. Former coach Tom Thibodeau reestablished the Knicks before he was fired in 2025 after four playoff appearances and the Knicks’ first Eastern Conference Finals trip in a quarter century. Brown was brought in with the purpose of elevating the same roster into a title-winning one.

“Mike Brown and our entire coaching staff, you came in this season with enormous expectations and completely exceeded them, and you did it with so much class that resonated with New Yorkers.”

Mike Brown

The coach, meanwhile, thanked his players for the commitment they showed behind closed doors in sacrificing for success. He called out Jordan Clarkson, who went nearly two months without playing before being called upon for huge playoff minutes. He also thanked the organization, but focused most of his gratitude on the fan base for supporting and pushing his team through the ups and downs.

“Playing in front of you guys when we had our ups was fantastic, but you’re the most knowledgeable foundation in the whole NBA,” Brown said. “Your guys’ energy when we had our downs was off the charts, and I want to thank you for it. There’s nothing better than walking into the iconic building of MSG and getting down night after night after night in front of you guys. You guys made us feel the energy that brought us over the hump when we didn’t feel like playing, when our game wasn’t at the top again.”

He then again did a rendition of the “Who Let the Dogs Out” chant, which Brunson immediately afterward said, “I don’t know how many times I tell Mike to stop doing that s–t.”

Jalen Brunson

Finally, before being given the keys to NYC, Brunson, the captain and Finals MVP, took the stage. After a round of thank-yous, he trailed off and seemed to lose his words before exclaiming the simplest sentiment uttered all morning.

“Damn, we really did it, dawg,” Brunson said to his teammates.

He also took the time to thank his family, including his father and Knicks assistant, Rick Brunson, before addressing those who doubted him and his ability to lead a team to a championship.

“There’s a lot of people who have a lot of opinions,” Brunson said. “But when you prove them wrong, you really ought to, you don’t have to say s–t to them. Nah, they don’t deserve it.”