They\u2019re the kings of New York City!<\/p>\n
The Knicks were heralded as royalty Thursday in what is estimated to be the largest ticker tape parade<\/a> \u2014 and biggest party \u2014 in Big Apple history, with ravenous fans arriving hours ahead of the event to catch a glimpse of the champions.<\/p>\n An estimated 2 million fans flooded lower Manhattan for the blockbuster event<\/a>, forming a sea of orange and blue that extended blocks beyond the Canyon of Heroes and swelled with unadulterated joy.<\/p>\n The epic championship ceremony is estimated to be the largest parade in New York City history. Matthew McDermott for NY Post<\/p>\n More than a million fans flooded lower Manhattan to witness the event. Charles Wenzelberg \/ New York Post<\/p>\n Knicks guard Jose Alvarado is swarmed by fans during the parade. Brian Zak\/NY Post<\/p>\n \u201cThis is Knick City! This is basketball town,\u201d said Al James, of Staten Island, who took the day off from the MTA to participate.<\/p>\n \u201cI never felt the energy like this. I\u2019ve never seen anything like this before.\u201d<\/p>\n The exuberant vibes and a ceremony to give the team the ceremonial keys<\/a> were the icing on the cake after a historic playoff run that saw the Knicks go 16-3 and rattle off 13 wins in a row.<\/p>\n The team finished off their epic Finals run by polishing off the San Antonio Spurs and NBA golden boy Victor Wembanyama in 5 games, in heated battles that saw Wemby become the most hated man in New York because of his roughhouse play \u2014 and the Knicks come out on top in a Game 4 showdown that saw them erase a 29-point deficit.<\/p>\n Jalen Brunson was seen alongside his father, Rick, and \u201cLaw & Order\u201d star Mariska Hargitay on the parade float. Charles Wenzelberg \/ New York Post<\/p>\n Many fans climbed up street poles and scaffolding to catch a glimpse of the players. Getty Images<\/p>\n At one point, Brunson exited the float and let fans touch the Larry O\u2019Brien championship trophy. AP Photo\/Richard Drew<\/p>\n The championship turned even cynical New Yorkers giddy and transformed the five boroughs into party central during and after games, with the parade and ceremony Thursday serving as a primal catharsis for a title-starved fanbase that went 53 years without an NBA title.<\/p>\n Follow The Post\u2019s live updates from the Knicks Championship parade for the latest city chaos, celeb sightings and sports reaction.<\/a><\/p>\n Jersey-wearing fans started showing up along the parade route not long after midnight in hopes of securing the very limited spots along the parade route.<\/p>\n The NYPD said 13 people were arrested, several for obstruction of governmental administration and a couple for assault, including one who allegedly scratched a police officer.<\/p>\n One fan even climbed a tree to catch a better view. Brian Zak\/NY Post<\/p>\n Fans arrived to the parade route hours before the event started. AP Photo\/Richard Drew<\/p>\n Mayor Zohran Mamdani teased that the ticker tape parade could be the biggest in Big Apple history days before, saying 1 million could attend \u2014 although turnout was at least double that.<\/p>\n Sean Dolan, 28, of Jersey City, planted himself in the area at 2 a.m., telling The Post the party was \u201clike Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the latest coverage on the Knicks\u2019 historic ticker-tape championship parade<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s one of the biggest moments of my life, honestly. Just being able to see the team you\u2019ve been rooting for your whole life win, being able to come and celebrate it with those millions and millions Knicks fans that are going to be here today, it\u2019s an insane feeling,\u201d Dolan said.<\/p>\n Gabriel Walcott, 18, woke up at 3 a.m. to race to the event from Ronkomkoma with a Brunson, egg and cheese in hand, saying he was \u201cwilling to do anything\u201d to be a part of the action. <\/p>\n Mayor Mamdani honored the players with keys to the city at City Hall. Stephen Yang for NY Post<\/p>\n The Knicks finished off the playoffs by going 16-3 en route to their first championship in 53 years. Stephen Yang for NY Post<\/p>\n Many also flocked from other states for the occasion, including Azaa and Bobby Thorpe, who had the 10-hour drive from North Carolina.<\/p>\n \u201cThis means the world to me,\u201d said Azaa, 70, with Bobby, 67, adding, \u201cThe team won the game but they won it for everybody out here today. I was saying thank God. They finally did it.\u201d<\/p>\n The crowds were so intense<\/a> that many people were turned away from the access points by 7:30 a.m. \u2014 less than an hour after fans were allowed to start filing inside the parade area.<\/p>\n Many fans also came from other states to witness the occasion. Matthew McDermott for NY Post<\/p>\n Alicia Keys performed to close the ceremony. Stephen Yang for NY Post<\/p>\n The subways were also so overwhelmed with fans<\/a> that it took some passengers around 30 minutes to crawl from the platforms onto the street.<\/p>\n