The Knicks’ first championship in 53 years was about so much more than the players, coaches, staffers and front office who made it happen.
It was just as much about the generations of New Yorkers who endured the painful years — those who stuck with the Knicks through all of the losing, whose commitment never wavered.
That much was clear to the fans who celebrated outside of Madison Square Garden and beyond on Saturday night after the Knicks won Game 5 of the NBA Finals, 94-90, in San Antonio.
“It’s long overdue,” said Michael Abiola, 29, a stockbroker from Lakeview, Long Island. “All the comebacks in every game were killing me. I’m just so glad we could close them out. We are world champions.”
The Knicks’ magical run past the Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers and, now, San Antonio Spurs united the city, with revelers celebrating in the streets and at watch parties after each of the 16 wins.
Massive crowds congregated throughout the city Saturday to celebrate together.
“It feels good to be a New Yorker,” said Tenneh Sandimanie, who was among some 200 people who watched near the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
Many fans weren’t born when the Knicks last hoisted the championship trophy back in 1973.
“Basketball was a culture,” said Michael Cox, 40, an entrepreneur and executive director of a nonprofit, who hails from Crown Heights.
“We had high schools to root for. At times, we had colleges to root for. But the real team was always the Knicks. And there was always something frustrating, always kind of a boneheaded play or a draft pick or something that just kept us from [winning]. I’m in shock, because I don’t think we ever really felt like we were gonna get there.”
Jalen Brunson was named Finals MVP after scoring 45 points in Saturday night’s closeout victory, and his clutch shot-making proved to be a separator throughout the series.
But he didn’t do it by himself.
OG Anunoby’s chase-down block and go-ahead putback with 1.2 seconds left in Game 4 capped a victory on a night the Knicks trailed by 29 points, marking the largest comeback in Finals history.
Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart all came up huge, too, while Jose Alvarado, Landry Shamet, Mitchell Robinson, Miles “Deuce” McBride and Jordan Clarkson delivered important moments as well.
Knicks president Leon Rose’s roster-building vision came to fruition during the playoff run, while head coach Mike Brown’s collaboration and aptitude for making adjustments proved why he was the right man for the job.
“We ended it tonight,“ said Nicole Williams, 38, a Bellevue hospital worker from Brooklyn. “It’s a pure celebration. Pandemonium.“
Michelle Cardona, 50, a program director for a domestic violence organization, said her late boyfriend “waited his whole life for this.”
“He’s been dead six years,” said Cardona of Williamsburg. “And I know he’s dancing in heaven.”
While the Knicks clinched the title some 1,800 miles away, the city held watch parties outside the Garden, at Wollman Rink in Central Park and at Radio City Music Hall.
That’s not to mention all of the bars and restaurants that hosted fans from throughout the five boroughs.
The party is set to continue on Thursday, when Mayor Mamdani says the Knicks’ championship parade will take place.
“The only time I think the city was this together was during 9/11,” said James Worrell, 45, of Long Island, who watched on his daughter’s laptop in Greeley Square.
“This Knicks atmosphere and what they’re doing is bringing everyone back together again.”
