The city that never sleeps has erupted after their beloved New York Knicks broke a 53-year drought to crown themselves as NBA champions.
Knicks fans were seen smashing up a cop car outside of Madison Square Garden, while others destroyed MTA and school buses among the madness in the hours after New York’s historic win on Sunday.
Knicks fans cause chaos on the streets. Adam Gray
After more than half a century of pain and anguish for Knicks fans, Jalen Brunson put up 15 points in the final quarter as they came from behind to win 94-90 on the road against the San Antonio Spurs in game five, clinching the seven-game series.
Officers say they haven’t worn this much protection in the streets since COVID.
“I’ve been doing this job for 20 years and I’ve never had to wear riot gear,” one officer told The Post outside MSG.
Knicks owner James Dolan cautioned fans to celebrate safely as he enjoyed his first championship with the team in San Antonio.
“We want everybody tonight, in New York, be safe,” Dolan told reporters in the post-game press conference.
“OK, celebrate, but be safe.”
It’s the first NBA Finals triumph for the Knicks in 53 years and celebrity row has never been so star-studded.
Timothée Chalamet and Ben Stiller, notably, were among the A-listers front and centre. Prince Harry was also in attendance, further back in the eighth row.
Chalamet even joined the team in the locker room during celebrations.
The players and travelling fans celebrated in style, while the scenes and parties in New York erupted as the final buzzer sounded.
Speaking post-game, Brunson – who was named finals MVP – was lost for words.
“Holy shit. I’ve got no words,” he said.
“It’s everything I ever dreamed of. I don’t know what I’m feeling, I’m in awe.
“Whenever someone counted us out, we found a way to come back.”
With the Knicks on their voyage back with an extra trophy in their luggage, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that the NBA champions would have a parade through New York borough Manhattan on their arrival.
Even one of the Knicks players himself, Josh Hart, found time to chime in on social media after the game.
Hart averaged 7.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists in the Finals.
But it wasn’t all fun and games for other players around the league. Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama missed the final shot of the 2026 final and immediately marched himself straight toward the locker room in defeat.
“It’s painful. But I’m not running away from that,” said Wembanyama, after not shaking any of the victorious Knicks player’s hands.
“I’m using it to fuel me.”
Precious Achiuwa, who played for New York from 2023-2025, signed in free agency with the Sacramento Kings earlier this season.
Now he had to watch his former teammates, and former Kings coach Mike Brown, lift the trophy without him.
New York won the first two games of the series away from home, before dropping game three at Madison Square Garden.
Things looked like they were starting to unravel again in game four, but the Knicks produced a historic 29-point comeback to put themselves in the box-seat.
The win in San Antonio clinched the series and now, the celebrations will begin.