Hollywood stars and longtime New York Knicks supporters turned out in full force on Thursday as New York City honored the NBA champions with a parade through lower Manhattan. The celebration came after the Knicks clinched their first NBA championship in 53 years on Saturday.
Celebrity Presence
Among the celebrities joining the festivities were filmmaker and devoted Knicks supporter Spike Lee, actor Timothée Chalamet, and actress Mariska Hargitay, all of whom have been regulars at the games. The parade began at 10 a.m. near Battery Park and proceeded north along Broadway through the famed Canyon of Heroes before concluding at City Hall.
Lee rode on a float alongside NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson. Chalamet, who attended every game of the NBA Finals, was seen joining the crowds cheering the team by chanting "Let's go, Knicks!"
Actor and director Ben Stiller was also spotted participating in the parade from one of the floats. His appearance came shortly after he confirmed that he is making a sports documentary about the New York Knicks. Stiller shared that he had been seen on his phone so much while sitting courtside during the NBA Finals because he is working on a film about his beloved team, in partnership with A24 for HBO, with the help of Madison Square Garden and the NBA. The film is set to chronicle the team's journey from the 1990s through this year's title run.
Comedian Tracy Morgan, another lifelong Knicks fan, joined the celebrations aboard Brunson's float.
Musical Performances
The parade also featured performances from some of New York's biggest musical names. Alicia Keys took to the stage to perform a rendition of Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind" before launching into her own hit, "Empire State of Mind," a song that has become synonymous with the city.
Several hip-hop stars also joined the festivities. Staten Island's Wu-Tang Clan headlined a dedicated hip-hop float and were accompanied by fellow New York artists including Q-Tip, Mobb Deep, Fat Joe, Remy Ma, Fabolous, Ja Rule, and M.O.P.
Music icons Mary J. Blige and Yung Miami also made appearances as thousands of fans lined the streets to celebrate the Knicks' long-awaited return to championship glory.
