Mamdani gets mixed reactions for using Knicks star Jalen Brunson's signature celebration at inaugural speech

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani delivers remarks after Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., swears him in during public ceremony.

New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani made reference to New York Knicks star point guard Jalen Brunson during the mayor's inaugural speech on Thursday, and even appeared to make a gesture that resembled Brunson's signature celebration. 

The move garnered mixed responses on social media. 

The reference came around nine minutes into the speech, when Mamdani proclaimed "excellence is no longer the exception," adding that the city "expects greatness" from "our point guard at Madison Square Garden." During that remark, the mayor covered his face with his hand, appearing to replicate Brunson's celebration, but then transitioned the gesture into a wipe of his face. 

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani delivers his inaugural address  Thursday, Jan. 1 outside City Hall. (Fox News / Pool)

Images of the moment spread across social media, with some Knicks fans appreciating the reference, but many others in the city and around the country criticizing Mamdani for his democratic socialist agenda.

Former Kansas City Chiefs preseason player Chris Manno was one of the many to criticize Mamdani, suggesting Brunson will "loathe" the new mayor. 

"The Captain is gonna loathe this clown soon as he learns how much of his next contract will be going to support those who don’t feel the need to work in that corrupt city," Manno wrote in a response to the clip on X. 

The cryptocurrency influencer account Dr. Evil of Crypto suggested Brunson would not align with Mamdani's values. 

"Brunson is a conservative, religious, family-oriented man. He would never associate with this