Recap: Knicks' championship parade in NYC
Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2026 5:11 pm
Recap: The city celebrates with the New York Knicks
Follow along as the New York Knicks celebrated the 2026 NBA championship with a parade.
What we know after the New York Knicks parade:
New York City celebrated its championship-winning Knicks after they brought home the franchise’s first championship since 1973.
The parade began near Battery Park and Bowling Green in Lower Manhattan and traveled north along Broadway, ending at City Hall with speeches from Jalen Brunson and Mike Brown, among others.
Alicia Keys performs
After the Knicks received keys to the city, the 17-time Grammy Award-winner and New York City native performed.
“We’ve been waiting 53 years for this moment, and we’re never going to stop,” said Keys. “Are we the champions or what?! Congratulations, New York City.”
The Knicks receive keys to the city
For the first time in NYC history, the keys were marked with an apple, celebrating the community, instead of the seal of New York City.
Mike Breen called the names of the players, one-by-one, where they received the honorary keys from Mayor Mamdani.
OG Anunoby was greeted by raucous cheers of his name — “OG, OG!” Karl-Anthony Towns got a passionate response. Jalen Brunson was serenaded with “MVP! MVP!”
Jalen Brunson speaks
“I want to thank Jim Dolan and the front office for believing in a kid no one else would. Thank you to my teammates,” said Knicks’ captain. “Damn, we really did it, dog. Somehow, someway, I knew we were going to find a way to get this done. Most importantly, thank you to the fans. Not going to lie, you guys are some pretty harsh critics, but we appreciate it… Damn, New York, we really did it man. We really did it.”
Mike Brown’s thoughts
Brown noted that the players had signed contracts committing to sacrifice at the beginning of the season.
“You saw it every time we hit the floor… Our guys brought a competitive spirit that was unmatched, and that’s why we’re the 2026 NBA champions,” said Brown. “There’s nothing that’s better than walking into the iconic building of MSG, and getting down, night after night after night.”
He ended by leading the crowd in a moment of call-and-response: “Who let the dogs out? Who? Who? Who?”
Walt “Clyde” Frazier shares his thoughts
“The beginning of the parade, and the ovation people gave me — I (felt) goosebumps. I was thinking about The Captain (Willis Reed)… all the people who are not here to see this. They would be amazed,” said Frazier. “This has exceeded any expectations that we thought that we had… What the Knicks have done, not only in New York, but throughout the country… it’s just been a magnificent thing to witness.”
Frazier noted that the role players for this team were essential, like they were in 1973 — Hart and Bridges joining names like DeBusschere and Bradley.
Herb Williams reflects
Williams played seven years with the Knicks as part of an 18-year NBA career, reaching the Finals with New York in 1994 and 1999, then went on to serve as an assistant coach from 2003-2014, as well as the interim head coach in 2003-04 and 2004-05.
“It’s great for the City. I’m proud for the guys that were on the team,” he said. “(The players) stuck together… They got the city involved… It’s been a long time, but it’s here now…
“It’s going to mean everything (to the fans). It’s the dream of a lifetime… Hey, they brought it home.”
A mother’s love
With Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ “Empire State of Mind” playing in the background, native New Yorker Sandra Brunson, Jalen Brunson’s mother, reflected with MSG’s Monica McNutt.
“It was all worth it. It was all worth it. A lot of hard work and a lot of sacrifice by all our family members. It was well worth it to see him live his dream,” she said. “In the words of Jalen, I have no words. It’s beautiful. I never imagined it. It was just a Mom wanting her son to fulfill his dreams, but it’s the biggest stage, and I’m so thankful.”
Hart: ‘It’s time to celebrate’
The Knicks’ x-factor took a moment from his whirlwind celebration to speak with MSG’s Alan Hahn.
“It’s a full-circle moment. This city embraced me. I ain’t perfect as a player by any means — they showed me love, they embraced me as one of their own,” said Hart. “I’m happy we were able to do this with them and celebrate with them.”
Ariel Hukporti rejoices in the moment
The Knicks’ backup center shared his feelings with MSG’s Alan Hahn, a longtime Knicks beat writer.
“I feel amazing,” he said. “I’m hoping they do it again. It’s one of the greatest feelings I’ve ever had in my entire world. You’ve been waiting your whole life; I’ve been waiting my whole career. We can both call ourselves champions now.”
Carmelo reflects on the moment
“New York is, as they would say, lit, right now,” said Carmelo Anthony on MSG’s parade broadcast. “It’s a lot of players that came through this organization… that tried to do this, and tried to accomplish this right here. We all understand what it feels like to wear the weight of that jersey… I like to say ‘we all won…’ This was the build-up for this moment.”
A legendary guard
NBC4’s Bruce Beck compared Jalen Brunson to Allen Iverson and Nate “Tiny” Archibald — two of the premier scoring small guards in NBA history on their broadcast.
Archibald, a New York City native, was a playground legend, helping lead the Boston Celtics to the 1981 NBA championship. He was the All-Star Game MVP and an All-NBA Second Team member that season.
Iverson (29.7 ppg) holds the third-highest scoring average in Playoff scoring history. Brunson (26.0 ppg) is 20th — but has a ring on his resume, as we’re celebrating today.
Follow along as the New York Knicks celebrated the 2026 NBA championship with a parade.
What we know after the New York Knicks parade:
New York City celebrated its championship-winning Knicks after they brought home the franchise’s first championship since 1973.
The parade began near Battery Park and Bowling Green in Lower Manhattan and traveled north along Broadway, ending at City Hall with speeches from Jalen Brunson and Mike Brown, among others.
Alicia Keys performs
After the Knicks received keys to the city, the 17-time Grammy Award-winner and New York City native performed.
“We’ve been waiting 53 years for this moment, and we’re never going to stop,” said Keys. “Are we the champions or what?! Congratulations, New York City.”
The Knicks receive keys to the city
For the first time in NYC history, the keys were marked with an apple, celebrating the community, instead of the seal of New York City.
Mike Breen called the names of the players, one-by-one, where they received the honorary keys from Mayor Mamdani.
OG Anunoby was greeted by raucous cheers of his name — “OG, OG!” Karl-Anthony Towns got a passionate response. Jalen Brunson was serenaded with “MVP! MVP!”
Jalen Brunson speaks
“I want to thank Jim Dolan and the front office for believing in a kid no one else would. Thank you to my teammates,” said Knicks’ captain. “Damn, we really did it, dog. Somehow, someway, I knew we were going to find a way to get this done. Most importantly, thank you to the fans. Not going to lie, you guys are some pretty harsh critics, but we appreciate it… Damn, New York, we really did it man. We really did it.”
Mike Brown’s thoughts
Brown noted that the players had signed contracts committing to sacrifice at the beginning of the season.
“You saw it every time we hit the floor… Our guys brought a competitive spirit that was unmatched, and that’s why we’re the 2026 NBA champions,” said Brown. “There’s nothing that’s better than walking into the iconic building of MSG, and getting down, night after night after night.”
He ended by leading the crowd in a moment of call-and-response: “Who let the dogs out? Who? Who? Who?”
Walt “Clyde” Frazier shares his thoughts
“The beginning of the parade, and the ovation people gave me — I (felt) goosebumps. I was thinking about The Captain (Willis Reed)… all the people who are not here to see this. They would be amazed,” said Frazier. “This has exceeded any expectations that we thought that we had… What the Knicks have done, not only in New York, but throughout the country… it’s just been a magnificent thing to witness.”
Frazier noted that the role players for this team were essential, like they were in 1973 — Hart and Bridges joining names like DeBusschere and Bradley.
Herb Williams reflects
Williams played seven years with the Knicks as part of an 18-year NBA career, reaching the Finals with New York in 1994 and 1999, then went on to serve as an assistant coach from 2003-2014, as well as the interim head coach in 2003-04 and 2004-05.
“It’s great for the City. I’m proud for the guys that were on the team,” he said. “(The players) stuck together… They got the city involved… It’s been a long time, but it’s here now…
“It’s going to mean everything (to the fans). It’s the dream of a lifetime… Hey, they brought it home.”
A mother’s love
With Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ “Empire State of Mind” playing in the background, native New Yorker Sandra Brunson, Jalen Brunson’s mother, reflected with MSG’s Monica McNutt.
“It was all worth it. It was all worth it. A lot of hard work and a lot of sacrifice by all our family members. It was well worth it to see him live his dream,” she said. “In the words of Jalen, I have no words. It’s beautiful. I never imagined it. It was just a Mom wanting her son to fulfill his dreams, but it’s the biggest stage, and I’m so thankful.”
Hart: ‘It’s time to celebrate’
The Knicks’ x-factor took a moment from his whirlwind celebration to speak with MSG’s Alan Hahn.
“It’s a full-circle moment. This city embraced me. I ain’t perfect as a player by any means — they showed me love, they embraced me as one of their own,” said Hart. “I’m happy we were able to do this with them and celebrate with them.”
Ariel Hukporti rejoices in the moment
The Knicks’ backup center shared his feelings with MSG’s Alan Hahn, a longtime Knicks beat writer.
“I feel amazing,” he said. “I’m hoping they do it again. It’s one of the greatest feelings I’ve ever had in my entire world. You’ve been waiting your whole life; I’ve been waiting my whole career. We can both call ourselves champions now.”
Carmelo reflects on the moment
“New York is, as they would say, lit, right now,” said Carmelo Anthony on MSG’s parade broadcast. “It’s a lot of players that came through this organization… that tried to do this, and tried to accomplish this right here. We all understand what it feels like to wear the weight of that jersey… I like to say ‘we all won…’ This was the build-up for this moment.”
A legendary guard
NBC4’s Bruce Beck compared Jalen Brunson to Allen Iverson and Nate “Tiny” Archibald — two of the premier scoring small guards in NBA history on their broadcast.
Archibald, a New York City native, was a playground legend, helping lead the Boston Celtics to the 1981 NBA championship. He was the All-Star Game MVP and an All-NBA Second Team member that season.
Iverson (29.7 ppg) holds the third-highest scoring average in Playoff scoring history. Brunson (26.0 ppg) is 20th — but has a ring on his resume, as we’re celebrating today.