‘Let’s hear it for New York’: Two million fans flood Manhattan for Knicks victory parade

NEW YORK: More than two million fans packed the streets of Lower Manhattan on Thursday as the New York Knicks celebrated their first NBA championship in 53 years, transforming the city into a sea of blue and orange and capping a title run that became one of the biggest sports stories of the year.

The championship parade rolled through New York’s famed Canyon of Heroes, where supporters filled sidewalks, balconies and rooftops, while others climbed delivery trucks, lamp posts and newsstands to catch a glimpse of the team that ended one of basketball’s most famous title droughts.

NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and their teammates waved to cheering crowds as confetti rained down across Manhattan and fans packed every available space along the route to City Hall.

Longtime Knicks superfan and filmmaker Spike Lee, who has spent decades courtside supporting the franchise through championship near-misses and playoff heartbreak, joined the celebrations as the city marked a moment generations of fans had waited more than half a century to experience.

The parade marked the culmination of a championship run that resonated far beyond New York.

The Knicks’ five-game NBA Finals victory over the San Antonio Spurs averaged 20.6 million viewers across ABC and ESPN, making it the most-watched NBA Finals since 1998. Game 5, which secured New York’s first championship since 1973, averaged 24.5 million viewers and peaked at 33 million viewers.

The series also generated a record 15 billion social media views, the most ever for an NBA Finals. The Knicks also set an all-time Fanatics merchandise sales record for any championship-winning team across sports during the first 24 hours after clinching the title.