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While the New York Knicks were the center of attention at their NBA championship parade on Thursday, it was Mayor Zohran Mamdani who stole the show.
Mamdani has not even been in office for a year, but he's already presided over a championship parade, and he was prepared for the occasion. The mayor kicked off the speech portion of the celebration at City Hall, delivering an eight-minute address that energized Knicks fans.
During those eight minutes, Mamdani touched on many of the topics New York fans wanted to hear before handing off the microphone. Of everyone who spoke Thursday, Mamdani had the most time and arguably the biggest impact.
Here's what Mamdani said at the Knicks parade.
MORE: Knicks championship parade highlights
Zohran Mamdani speech today
Mamdani's speech at the Knicks championship parade hit many of the notes fans wanted to hear. Something that really stood out from Mamadani was that he thanked many of the former Knicks who were not part of this team but were important member of past teams, liek former coach Tom Thibodeau and former star Carmelo Anthony.
"This championship belongs to them too, because championships aren't just built in one season."
Zohran Mamdani shouts out former Knicks players and Tom Thibodeau for their contributions towards this Knicks title: pic.twitter.com/Zqrb8dF7vQ
Mamdani also said that the 29-point comeback in Game 4 is something that exemplified New Yorkers as a whole.
"It is in that 0.4% that we go to work"
Zohran Mamdani talks about the Knicks' long odds in Game 4 and shouts out the Knicks' players: pic.twitter.com/iKCHwuxnES
Perhaps most importantly, Mamdani appreciated how the Knicks brought the city together in a way that didn't include tragedy.
“So often when this city comes together it is because we are forced to, by a moment of tragedy or adversity. What a gift it is to be brought together by pure, unfiltered joy.” - @NYCMayor https://t.co/bOW4QZeaGG
— Maria Langholz (@MariaLangholz) June 18, 2026Here's a look at Mamdani's full speech Thursday.
here is Mamdani's entire speech at the Knicks parade, which is easily the best speech I've ever heard at an event of this sort pic.twitter.com/FiTxy81Yq3
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 18, 2026MORE: Tyler Kolek mistaken for fan at Knicks parade
Is Zohran Mamdani a Knicks fan
According to The Wall Street Journal, Mamdani became a Knicks fan after he moved to New York City. Over the past few years, when he first began his mayoral campaign then won the election to become the mayor of New York City, Mamdani has been a vocal supporter of the Knicks as he's gotten more accustomed to running the city.
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