Hollywood stars and longtime New York Knicks supporters were out in full force Thursday as New York City honored the NBA champions with a parade in lower Manhattan. The celebration came after the Knicks won their first NBA championship in 53 years on Saturday.Among the celebrities joining the festivities were director and loyal Knicks fan Spike Lee, actor Timothée Chalamet and actress Mariska Hargitay, all of whom were regulars at the games. The parade began at 10 a.m. near Battery Park and headed north along Broadway through the famous Valley of Heroes before concluding at City Hall.Lee rode on a float next to NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson. Chalamet, who has attended every NBA Finals game, was seen joining the fans cheering on the team by chanting “Let’s go, Knicks!”
Actor and director Ben Stiller was also seen participating in the show from one of the vehicles.
His discovery came shortly after he confirmed that he was preparing a sports documentary about the New York Knicks. The actor shared that he was seen on his phone a lot while sitting on the court during the NBA Finals because he is working on a movie about his beloved team, in partnership with A24 for HBO, with help from Madison Square Garden and the NBA.
The film is scheduled to narrate the team’s journey from the 1990s until winning the title this year.
Comedian Tracy Morgan, a lifelong Knicks fan, joined the festivities aboard Bronson’s wagon. The show also included performances by some of New York’s biggest musical names. Alicia Keys took to the stage to perform Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind” before launching into her hit song “Empire State of Mind,” a song that has become synonymous with the city.
Many hip-hop stars also joined the celebrations. Staten Island’s Wu-Tang Clan headlined a show dedicated to hip-hop and were accompanied by New York artists including Q-Tip, Mobb Deep, Fat Joe, Remy Ma, Fabolous, Ja Rule and MOP.Music icons Mary J. Blige and Young Miami also made appearances as thousands of fans lined the streets to celebrate the Knicks’ long-awaited return to championship glory.
