Knicks players receive surreal New York City honor before championship parade

Fans gather outside Madison Square Garden on the day of Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs, in New York City, U.S., June 13, 2026. REUTERS/Ed Ou (Imagn Images)

The New York Knicks are closing in on one of the most anticipated championship celebrations in franchise history, but New York City is already finding creative ways to honor its newest basketball heroes.

Ahead of Thursday's ticker-tape parade through Lower Manhattan, Knicks players were given a tribute that immediately caught the attention of fans online. Jerseys belonging to members of the championship team were hung inside New York City Hall, creating a powerful visual ahead of the city's first Knicks championship parade since 1973.

Front Office Sports shared images of the display Wednesday, showing Knicks jerseys suspended throughout City Hall as preparations continued for Thursday's festivities.

For a franchise that spent decades chasing another title, the sight was a reminder of just how much this championship means to New York.

Knicks players are having their jerseys hung at New York City Hall for Thursday's championship parade. pic.twitter.com/2SjnZsAX33

A celebration 53 years in the making

The Knicks completed their dream season by defeating the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals, securing the organization's first championship in 53 years. Led by Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, the Knicks captured the attention of the city throughout their playoff run. Now New York is preparing to celebrate in a fashion reserved for its most iconic champions.

Thursday's parade will begin at 10 a.m. ET near Bowling Green and travel north along Broadway through the historic Canyon of Heroes before concluding near City Hall. According to city officials, massive crowds are expected to line the route as fans gather to celebrate a championship many thought they might never see.

The championship run also produced some of the most memorable moments in recent Knicks history, including OG Anunoby's dramatic Game 4 tip-in and Brunson's dominant Finals performance that helped deliver the Larry O'Brien Trophy back to Manhattan.

City Hall becomes part of Knicks history

While the parade itself will be the main attraction, the jersey display at City Hall added another memorable chapter to the celebration. The jerseys transformed one of New York City's most recognizable government buildings into a temporary shrine to the Knicks' championship season.

It's the kind of tribute that underscores how deeply this title resonated beyond basketball. The Knicks aren't simply celebrating an NBA championship; they're celebrating the end of a 53-year wait that stretched across generations of fans. Many longtime supporters spent decades watching championship contenders come and go without seeing the franchise return to the top. Now, with jerseys hanging inside City Hall and a ticker-tape parade ready to take over Broadway, the city is embracing every moment.

MORE: The Knicks delivered something the NBA hasn't seen since Michael Jordan's Bulls

New York prepares for a massive turnout

City officials have spent days preparing for what could be one of the largest sports celebrations New York has hosted in recent years. Fans planning to attend Thursday's parade are expected to arrive early, with security screenings in place along the route. Several subway stations near the parade path will be closed, and portions of Lower Manhattan will be restricted to vehicle traffic.

The celebration will conclude with a ceremony at City Hall Plaza, where Mayor Zohran Mamdani is expected to present the Knicks with the Keys to the City. Before the confetti starts flying and the championship buses roll through the Canyon of Heroes, though, the jerseys hanging inside City Hall have already delivered one unmistakable message:

The Knicks are champions, and New York still can't quite believe it.

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