Knicks fans flood Manhattan for a joyous championship parade

Thousands of fans took to the streets of New York City to celebrate the Knicks' first championship since 1973.Anisha Chopra / NBC NewsU.S. newsKnicks fans flood Manhattan for a joyous championship paradeChaos, disorganization and rain didn’t stop New Yorkers from showing up and showing out for this once-in-a-lifetime moment. Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00ShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJune 18, 2026, 10:14 PM EDTBy Amina KilpatrickIt was a New York love affair. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Glistening in the sun from about 1,000 feet away, the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy dazzled attendees, arriving in New York after a 53-year title drought. The Knicks may have been on the court, but it was the city that won the championship. A family in matching Jalen Brunson jerseys. Three generations of Knicks fans. Honoring deceased loved ones. This championship meant a lot to New Yorkers, and they showed out in droves Thursday to prove it. Fans crowd Fulton Street in celebration of Knicks’ NBA championship.Anisha Chopra / NBC NewsVincent Marshall, of Staten Island, grew up watching Patrick Ewing with his older brother, James. He came in part to honor his brother, a firefighter, who died before he could see the Knicks win a championship. “He saw the Giants; he saw the Yankees,” Marshall, 43, told NBC News. “For him not to see this — the closest he got was ’99 — for him to be looking down on everybody right now, it’s really truly a special moment.”Police adjust barricades at a security checkpoint at Nassau Street and Maiden Lane.Anisha Chopra / NBC NewsIt took a lot of dedication to witness the festivities. For a parade scheduled to start at 10 a.m., the pens to watch alongside Broadway were full by 7:30 a.m. Even estimates from city officials to arrive at least two hours early were not enough. In the hours before the parade, people anxiously awaited the arrival of their champions. Ea...