The New York Knicks won their first NBA championship in 53 years, and on Thursday the city is throwing them a parade. It starts at 10 a.m. ET and runs down Broadway through the Canyon of Heroes, from The Battery to City Hall. A celebration at City Hall follows, where the team will be awarded keys to the city.
According to CBS Sports, this will be the first parade in Knicks history. The franchise did not hold one after either of its previous titles, in 1970 or 1973.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani released a statement ahead of the event. "For more than 50 years, New Yorkers have waited for this moment. Through near misses, heartbreak and a hope that every year could be our year, this city never stopped believing in the Knicks. And this team fulfilled that hope with grit, resilience and heart -- just like the five boroughs itself," Mamdani said. "New Yorkers have cheered for our team from packed living rooms in the Bronx to watch parties in Brooklyn, from bars in Queens to Staten Island to Manhattan, and Madison Square Garden itself. Now it's time for our city to celebrate together. Bing bong."
The Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games to claim the title. The series was close throughout. All five games were decided by 10 points or fewer. New York won Games 2 and 4 by a single point, making them just the second team in NBA history to win multiple games in the same Finals by one point, joining the 1975 Golden State Warriors.
The comeback wins were remarkable. The Knicks erased a 29-point deficit in Game 4 at home, the largest comeback in Finals history and tied for the second-largest in the play-by-play era, which dates to 1997. They then came back from 16 down in Game 5 in San Antonio to close out the series on the road.
Jalen Brunson was named Finals MVP. He set a Knicks Finals scoring record with 45 points in Game 5 and averaged 32.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and two steals across the series. He joins Willis Reed as the only players in Knicks history to earn Finals MVP honors.
Coach Mike Brown spoke to reporters Saturday night after the clinching win. "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. I mean, I don't know how long it's been since that final buzzer went off but I still don't believe it," Brown said. He continued: "I'm pinching myself. I'm telling myself to try to be present, all the stuff that I tell these guys every single day I'm trying do to do because -- I can't believe it. ... I love my players, love the organization, but more importantly, let's go New York. Let's go New York."
Thursday's parade will be livestreamed on CBS News New York beginning at 10 a.m. ET.
