56 minutes ago
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We asked fans around New York: What would a Knicks championship mean for them and the city? In a word: Everything.
Dear Knicks . . .
“It’d be incredible. This team’s been getting close the past couple years. They’ve got a great young core. When the Knicks are doing well and they’re winning championships, it also helps us at the Stadium, man. The fans are pumped up here at every game. We’re rooting for ’em. We’ve got their back.”
— Aaron Judge, captain of the Yankees
“If the Knicks win, that means that my father is looking down on them and saying, ‘Yes, go, go, go.’ He passed away just before Mother’s Day. He was watching the finals. He was like, ‘Oh, my boys are going to do it,’ but he couldn’t see them do it. And thank God that they have swept everybody. This is amazing. And I’m so excited to actually be able to say, ‘This is for my dad.’ Go Knicks. You got an angel on your side.”
— Shukura Gardner-Petrus
“When you grow up in the streets of New York in the late ‘50s, rooting for the Knicks in the ’60s and getting that championship, it was awesome those two years of championship basketball. And now we get a chance once again. And there’s no doubt in my mind — don’t worry about Jalen Brunson being Second Team. He’s the best player in pro basketball this year. And OG, don’t worry about being Second Team Defense. You’re the best defensive player in the league. Go Knicks!”
— Rick Pitino, St. John’s basketball coach
“For my students here at Nesaquake, it’s a daily master class in resilience. It proves to these kids that if you put your head down, do the dirty work and play for the guy next to you, you can conquer the world.”
— Dan McCabe, principal of Nesaquake Middle School
“It’s special. We’re all pulling for them. We’re watching every play, every game, every time we can. The whole city, the Mets, everybody’s behind you guys. Keep it rolling. Four more. It’ll be something special for all of us here in New York.”
— Carlos Mendoza, Mets manager
“2026 has been the year for New York City basketball. We had the LIU men’s basketball team win the NEC championship and make it to March Madness. And now the Knicks are only four wins away from an NBA championship. It was only a few years ago where no one would have ever thought this was possible for either one of these teams. What this Knicks run shows is that in the greatest city in the world, New York City, anything is possible. Fins up and best of luck bringing a championship home to New York.”
— David Pochapin
“1973 in New York City. Watergate. The Vietnam War. We were a divided city. But the Knicks brought us together with their championship against the Lakers of [Wilt] Chamberlain and [Jerry] West. Oh, it was Willis Reed and Walt ‘Clyde’ Frazier. And now once again I’m reminded, as we’re on the cusp of another NBA championship, this is what’s bringing the city together. The suburbs, the urban area, where you could get together real Knick fans over the years. Real Knick fans who disagree on everything but come together for the good of a city that’s polarized, in which it’s negative, it’s divided. And the Knicks are bringing us all together, hopefully through the Canyon of Heroes, a championship parade where you’ll see the most unlikely people cheering the world champion Knicks together on the steps of City Hall.”
— Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels
“I think New York would be on the map like they wanted to be with the Knicks. For real. I think New York is definitely going to be wilding out, and I’m pretty sure if they made it this far, they’re going to make it all the way.”
— Emily Colon
“I am the pastor of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi. It’s exactly one-half block away from Madison Square Garden. I’ve been a Knicks fan for over 50 years. I was there when it happened, when they won the championship in 1973. The Knicks will win the championship this year when they beat their opponent next week. This is a great joy for New York City. Let’s go Knicks.”
— Father Brian Jordan
“A New York Knicks victory is like Joey Chestnut winning on the 4th of July. You know everything is right in the world.”
— George Shea
“What would a Knicks championship mean to me? I’ve been waiting for this moment all my life. New York City needs this, man. Fifty-three years since 1973. No, we need this. We need this”
— Gil Vazquez
“Not IF the Knicks win the championship — WHEN they win the championship. This place is going to be on fire. Tri-state area. Oh my goodness. Let me tell you something. The mecca of basketball is New York. And the greatest fans, sports fans in the world, come from New York and they deserve this. So I’m so proud of the Knicks. I can tell you Willis Reed, Dave DeBusschere, Earl ‘The Pearl’ Monroe. Once you win a championship in New York, you’re never forgotten.”
— Jayson Williams, former Nets player
“It would mean the world to me, honestly. There’s a blue and orange that needs to get it right ’cause the Mets, you know, I’m also a Mets fan. But they’re gonna do it, I believe it.”
— Joshua Lopez
“Growing up a Knicks fan my whole life, every birthday was a new Knicks jersey. Do it for me, do it for Carmelo [Anthony], do it for [Patrick] Ewing, do it for those guys. We don’t want any more jerseys, we want a trophy!”
— Louie Selvaggio
“It would mean everything to me. We’ve been waiting for this for more than 50 years. We probably have to write new legislation to rename laundromats because of how he’s been washing these teams.”
— Mayor Zohran Mamdani
“This will be the single biggest licensed event in the history of New York. And more importantly, it will bring the whole city together unlike any other win than any team in New York’s history.”
— Mitchell Modell, former CEO of Modell’s Sporting Goods
“Everything. It’s the one franchise since the ’70s that has not won anything. Giants had it. Rangers had it in the ’90s. They haven’t won since the ’70s. This is probably the one fandom team that does not split in New York City. You have the Brooklyn Nets and everything, but it’s the one fandom that never splits anybody. We have Rangers, we have Islanders, we have Jets, we have Giants. Giants won championships. Rangers won championships in the ’90s. If you’re from New York and you’re an original New Yorker, the Knicks are your team. And I’m 37 years old and never seen one. You see the crowd out here. You see how they react. It’s amazing.”
— Nicholas Ramos
“If the New York Knicks win the championship this year, that’ll be the greatest thing I’ve ever witnessed in my lifetime. It’d be amazing. I feel like the whole city will go wild, including me. I might crowd surf. There are a lot of things that I might attempt to do if the New York Knicks win a championship. That’s for certain.”
— Nisaun White, a server at Roberta’s in Penn Station
“Have you been outside? Everybody’s polite for no reason. Everybody’s smiling. Republicans are celebrating with Democrats. Ultra-conservatives are celebrating with ultra-lefties. The New York Post, of all people, asked me about my opinion.”
— Public Advocate Jumaane Williams
“It is a great time to be a Knicks fan. In 1999, we were in the finals, but we didn’t go all the way, unfortunately. You got to go back all the way to 1973 where the Knicks went all the way and won the NBA championship. This is our time. History is with us. We’re going to take that championship and bring the cup home to New York City and all of New York. Let’s go Knicks. Let’s do it. It’s been waiting a long time. We’re all Knicks fans. We can’t wait for them to beat San Antonio over the head.”
— Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine
“I’m really excited for them. I’ve had the fortune of getting to know a couple of their guys over the last couple of years. To see the level they’re playing at right now is really fun to witness. The run — what, they’ve won, 11, 12 games in a row in dominant fashion? The West is going to be tough but I feel like they have a special, special thing going on and hopefully they can bring one home.”
— Aaron Boone, Yankees manager
“So, let’s pray for the Knicks. Let’s pray for the players, their managers, and all the fans just for these next couple of days to be united as one and, yeah, just whatever happens, give glory to God. So, we ask you to send your blessing upon the Knicks in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
— Father Steven McClernon, Beach Catholic in Long Beach
English (US)