The Knicks’ unique ability to bring together all five boroughs (and beyond) in celebration of their first chip in 53 years continued on Thursday with an official parade capping off what’s been a jubilant few days for players and fans alike.
The parade kicked off at 10:00 a.m. local time, starting near Bowling Green in Lower Manhattan before heading north along Broadway en route to a closing ceremony at City Hall. Mercifully, no tickets were required for those who opted to take in the festivities along the route, leading to an expectedly massive crowd.
Below, we break down highlights from Thursday’s parade, which will seemingly be featured in Knicks superfan Ben Stiller’s upcoming A24 and HBO documentary.
Viewing pens fill up before parade kicks off
“All viewing areas are full,” NYPD reps confirmed early Thursday morning. “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.”
Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and other Knicks stars met with roaring applause
Jalen Brunson, named this year’s Finals MVP (and for good reason), is sports royalty at this point. This was evident in the crowd reaction to his appearance at Thursday’s parade, though fans also screamed their hearts out for Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart, among other stars.
KAT and NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani sing and dance along to Terror Squad’s “Lean Back”
Mamdani joined KAT atop one of the parade’s floats, with the two at one point leaning back in unison to the sounds of “Lean Back.”
Fat Joe’s Knicks parade float
Fat Joe had Remy Ma join him for a performance of “Lean Back,” while Ja Rule also got in on the action with some “New York.” Mary J. Blige, among others, were also enlisted by Joe, who said he had been tapped to lead the “hip-hop division” for Thursday’s proceedings.
A cutout of a tearful Wemby makes an appearance
This, to put it mildly, was bound to happen.
Jordyn Woods brings her “lucky” bag
We’ve talked a lot about this bag, formally known as the Tux Clutch Mini, and its sustaining status as a “good luck charm,” of sorts, for the Knicks. Naturally, Woods, who is engaged to KAT, opted to bring the bag back once again for the parade.
The bag was later spotted being held by none other than Mayor Mamdani.
Knicks icon Walt “Clyde” Frazier joins the celebration
It was only right that Clyde, who led the Knicks to its other two chips in the early ‘70s, got some shine at Thursday’s parade.
Mitchell Robinson rolls through in a custom truck, downs beer
Robinson went all out for his parade appearance, giving New Yorkers an up-close look at his custom truck.
Spike Lee gets his well-earned moment
There are few Knicks fans as devoted, and as consistently enthusiastic, as Oscar-winning filmmaker Spike Lee. Simply put, the parade would have felt like a sham without him.
Timothée Chalamet takes it all in
Like Spike, TC has become a fixture at Knicks games, at one point joking about the physical toll of being a dedicated fan.
