Live Updates: Knicks parade celebrates NBA Championship win in Manhattan

Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson was the last person to speak Thursday at the City Hall ceremony, and he left nothing at the podium.

With the fans chanting, "MVP, MVP," the 2026 NBA Finals MVP thanked Knicks owner James Dolan and the front office for "believing in a kid that no one else would."

Later, the veteran point guard reflected on helping to end the Knicks' 53-year championship drought.

"Damn, New York, we really did it, man. We really did it. I wouldn't trade this for the world," Brunson said.

Brunson closed by saying, "There's a lot of people that have a lot of negative things to say. There's a lot of people who have a lot of opinions. But when you prove them wrong, you don't have to say [expletive] to them."

Knicks team president Leon Rose, the head of basketball operations, has never been one to demand the spotlight. He's perfectly content to stay behind the scenes and do his job.

And, man, has he done it.

Hired by owner James Dolan in 2020, Rose will forever be known as the architect of the Knicks' first championship team since 1973.

At the City Hall ceremony on Thursday, Rose thanked many people and gave a special shoutout to the fans.

"Last, and most importantly, to the greatest fans in the world, we did it for you," Rose said. "You're support in every arena, it felt like a home game wherever we played."

In no particular order, here's how Rose built the Knicks' starting five, transforming the team from pretenders to eventual world champions:

• Signed point guard Jalen Brunson to a four-year, $156.5 million free agent contract in 2022, a deal many people thought was an overpay at the time, but one that now looks like an absolute bargain.
• Acquired guard Josh Hart in a four-team trade in February 2023.
• Acquired forward OG Anunoby from the Toronto Raptors in December 2023 for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickly and a 2024 second-round pick. 
• Acquired small forward Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets in July 2024 for a package that included five first-round picks and three players.
• Acquired center Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves in October 2024 for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, two of the Knicks' best players at the time.

Once the ceremony got started at City Hall, Knicks owner James Dolan made it a point to look out over the crowd and take in all the younger Knicks fans' faces.

He said while the old guard fans had to wait 53 years for a championship, the majority of the people in attendance had to wait a lifetime.

"We're very, very happy to have brought you a championship. I'm very proud of our team," Dolan said, later adding, "We're gonna keep working to bring you even better basketball, although it's hard to imagine that we get much better than this. But we will, right fellas?"

Members of the New York Knicks, along with politicians like Mayor Zohran Mamdani and New York Attorney General Letitia James, are at a ceremony at City Hall after the parade. 

Knicks legend Patrick Ewing was riding in his own car with his name on it during the parade.

He spoke to CBS News New York's Doug Williams about how special the Knicks team is to him and to all New Yorkers. 

"This team means a significant amount not only to me but to the whole city. Look all these people who came out to celebrate them It's a great feeling," Ewing said.

It's been pandemonium along the parade route as fans were seen sitting on top of crosswalk signals and hanging over street signs to catch a glimpse of the parade. 

Knicks guard Josh Hart averaged 10 points, nine rebounds and five assists during the playoffs. He was especially good in clinching Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, posting 13 points and 11 boards in New York's 94-90 win.

So, yeah, he deserved to enjoy a cigar on one of the floats during the team's championship parade on Thursday.

As New Yorkers celebrate the historic ticker-tape parade, Starbucks released a city-exclusive beverage.

The New York Energy Refresher will only be available on Thursday in honor of the Knicks. 

It's a Mango Strawberry Lemonade Energy Refresher topped with blue coconut cream cold foam.

Customers in the city can use the Starbucks app to order the drink at participating stores across the five boroughs. 

For Knicks fans outside the city, anyone can order the secret menu beverage. Just ask for the Mango Strawberry Lemonade Energy Refresher with no strawberries and the cold foam. 

Mayor Zohran Mamdani, OG Anunoby and other members of the Knicks were seen celebrating on a float with massive crowds surrounding them. 

The Knicks didn't win the NBA title by accident. They didn't just luck their way through 82 regular-season games and four grueling rounds of the playoffs. They built momentum last fall and sustained it right through Game 5 of the Finals against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.

Here's a look at 10 of the season's top moments that led to them achieving their ultimate goal -- their first world championship in 53 years.

While the Knicks ride around on floats and receive much-deserved love in the Canyon of Heroes in Lower Manhattan, there are a bunch of other professional sports teams that call the New York City area home that haven't had a parade in their honor in a long time, if ever.

The metropolitan area is home to nine teams from the four major North American pro sports leagues. It took the Knicks 53 years to finally win another championship. The wait for the other eight continues.

For how long? Maybe later this year or next year, or maybe never. We'll just have to wait and see.

Enjoy the Knicks euphoria while it lasts and please check out where our other teams stand in their never-ending pursuit of glory.

The NYC Board of Elections is encouraging Knicks fans to vote early.

Voters will get a special sticker that looks like a basketball in honor of Thursday's celebration. 

Polls are open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the stickers are available while supplies last. 

Mayor Zohran Mamdani was spotted dancing on a float with Karl-Anthony Towns. 

Mikal Bridges was spotted recording all of the action and excitement on a camcorder as he walked through the parade.

Jalen Brunson, who undoubtedly played a pivotal role in the team's championship run, has made his way to the parade.

The NBA Finals MVP was seen holding his daughter, who was wearing an orange and blue headband in support. 

Beside him was also his high school sweetheart and wife, Ali Marks Brunson, who was also wearing a Knicks tank top. 

Mayor Zohran Mamdani said bus service is suspended in much of Lower Manhattan and subways are skipping stations.

He advised residents and visitors to text NOTIFYNYC to 692-692 to receive the most recent information regarding safety and transportation.

"We've got a big crowd here celebrating our Knicks," Mamdani posted on social media.

There's no surprise that Knicks superfans Spike Lee and actor Timothée Chalamet are at the historic parade.

Chalamet went right past CBS News New York's Allen Devlin as he hyped up the crowd, giving fans high fives. 

Comedian and lifelong Knicks fan Ben Stiller was spotted along with TV host and author Martha Stewart and comedian Chris Rock.

MVP Jalen Brunson was spotted walking with his wife and his daughter. Karl-Anthony Towns was seen shaking fans' hands, taking pictures and signing merchandise. 

Knicks owner James Dolan, Jose Alvarado and Jordan Clarkson were also seen along the parade route. 

Former NBA player Rod Strickland is with CBS News New York's Kristine Johnson and Otis Livingston at the parade. 

The Bronx native and former Knicks player said this season has been unforgettable.

"It has been incredible being from New York and actually being drafted by the Knicks," he said.

Strickland said he had goosebumps as he walked to the parade and saw the thousands of fans. 

"I'm a New Yorker. I'm proud of these young guys. I'm happy for the older guys who didn't get a chance to win a championship, and now they're a part of this," he said. 

Buses holding Knicks players are arriving before the 10 a.m. start time.

CBS News New York's Doug Williams saw player Jose Alvarado get out of one of the buses with the championship trophy. 

The point guard hyped up the crowd before going back into the bus. 

The Knicks' championship run not only gave us some amazing basketball but also some new local celebrities.

"The Baklava Guy" rose to fame after handing out his signature dessert for free to Knicks fans outside Madison Square Garden. 

Roy Donk, the owner of Good Baklava, said giving out free treats is just another way to get fans amped up. 

"There's just special moments in New York history which we're living right now, and I usually sell it, but there's no chance of selling it right now," he said. 

CBS News New York's Christina Fan met up with him along the parade route.

The MTA said as a throwback to 1973, when the Knicks last won the championship, they will be running a vintage R32 subway car on the A line from Harlem to Lower Manhattan.

The train will run express from 168th Street to Canal Street before terminating at World Trade Center. It started running at 7 a.m.

The New York Knicks' victory tour following their first NBA championship since 1973 made another stop Wednesday night when Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart threw out ceremonial first pitches at Yankee Stadium.

Before the Yankees played the Chicago White Sox, Brunson and Hart were met with a standing ovation and loud cheers from fans as they took the field to a montage of highlights from the title run.

Standing in front of the mound and wearing Yankees pinstripes, Brunson made his toss to backup catcher J.C. Escarra while Hart threw to utilityman Max Schuemann.

Brunson threw out a first pitch for the second time since joining the Knicks. He also did it before a Mets-Yankees game in July 2024 shortly after signing a four-year, $156.5 million contract to stay with the Knicks.

Officials were putting the finishing touches Wednesday on the city's historic lead car, a Chrysler Imperial Phaeton, which has been used in every parade since 1952.

MTA officials said there are several subway trains skipping stops due to the parade. 

• E trains are not in service between W 4 St-Wash Sq and World Trade Center.
• 4 and 5 will be skipping Wall St in both directions, but stopping at Bowling Green 
• 2, 3, 4 and 5 trains will skip Fulton Street
• 2 and 3 trains will skip Park Place in both directions and will stop at Wall Street and Chambers Street
• A and C trains are skipping Chambers Street in both directions, stopping at Canal Street and Fulton Street 
• R and W trains will skip City Hall in both directions and stop at Park Place and Chambers Street

The NYPD said all the viewing pens for the parade are full as of 7:24 a.m.

Nobody else will be let in along the parade route. 

"As a reminder, if you leave the viewing pens, you will not be allowed reentry," a social media post from the NYPD stated. 

The parade will step off at 10 a.m. near Battery Park and travel north along Broadway before arriving at City Hall, where a ceremony will be held.

Dozens of fans were spotted lining up near the parade access points along the route before 5 a.m.

Although it was early, spirits were high as spectators started cheering and clapping while wearing their Knicks gear.

One fan was even spotted walking down the street waving a Knicks flag. 

There will be 10,000 police officers assigned to the Knicks championship parade, the largest number ever for a planned event in New York City's history.

Police sources say there will be assets that the public will be able to see and assets it won't see.

The NYPD's security plan will also feature heavy weapons teams, explosive detection K9s, transportation, transit, highway and aviation officers, as well as the anti-drone squad.  

Fans are encouraged to arrive at least two hours early as city officials are expecting thousands of people to attend.

Here are some options via mass transit:

• Take the 4 and 5 lines to the Bowling Green station, which drops you at the southern start of the parade route
• Take the 1 line to Rector Street or Cortlandt Street for mid-route access along Broadway
• Take the 2 and 3 lines to the Park Place station, which puts you near the City Hall ceremony
• Take the R and W lines to Whitehall Street or Cortlandt Street as alternate entry points
• Take the A, C, E line to Fulton Street for central access to the route 
• The Staten Island Ferry service will run every 15 minutes

Wall Street station on the 4/5 line and City Hall station on the R/W line closed at 4:30 a.m. and will reopen by approximately 5 p.m.

Trains will stop at the following stations, but some entrances and exits will be closed:

• Chambers Street on the J/Z line
• Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall on the 4/5/6 line
• Park Place on the 2/3 line
• Fulton Center on the 2/3, 4/5, A/C, J/Z and R lines
• Bowling Green on the 4/5 line

The MTA may add extra trains on the A, J and 1 lines following the parade if necessary.

City officials released a list of items that won't be allowed at the parade.

• Large bags and backpacks
• Outside alcohol
• Umbrellas
• Folding chairs and other large items
• Glass or metal water bottles
• Bats/batons
• Bicycle or scooters
• Coolers
• Drones
• Pets
• Strollers
• Weapons