Jun 22, 2026
Photos courtesy of Cody Jacobson Fans gather for the New York Knicks championship parade Thursday in New York City.
At 3 a.m., Lower Manhattan is usually quiet — even by the standards of the city known as “The City That Never Sleeps.”
On this particular morning, however, the silence was replaced by the energy of thousands of New York Knicks fans who had already lined the streets in anticipation of the 10 a.m. championship parade. The only interruptions to the growing crowd were the occasional rodents darting across Broadway.
We had gathered for a historic occasion: the celebration of the New York Knicks’ 2026 NBA Finals victory over the San Antonio Spurs, a championship that ended a 53-year title drought and captivated an entire city.
An estimated 3 to 5 million people filled the streets of New York City to celebrate the franchise’s first championship since 1973. The Knicks’ last title came during an era when Jim Croce’s “Time in a Bottle” topped the charts and Western New York was home to its own NBA franchise, the Buffalo Braves.
While the Braves have long since disappeared, the Knicks are firmly back on top.
At top, from left, are New York Knicks players Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson.
Following a remarkable postseason run in which they finished 16-3, highlighted by a dominant 13-game winning streak, the Larry O’Brien Trophy has finally returned to the Mecca of Basketball.
Led by Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, the team’s resilience, toughness, and unforgettable fourth-quarter comebacks cemented its place among the most beloved squads in franchise history.
Attending the famed Canyon of Heroes ticker-tape parade was both a test of endurance and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
It was the kind of event that transcends sports — a celebration of loyalty, perseverance and a championship decades in the making.
Without question, it will be remembered as one of the most iconic moments in New York sports history.
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Cody Jacobson is a Mayville resident, 2005 Chautauqua Lake Central School graduate and lifelong New York Knicks fan. He drove a combined 13 hours to attend the championship parade last Thursday in New York.
At bottom, from left, are New York Knicks fans Ben Stiller, Spike Lee and a young girl in the crowd.
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