New Yorkers will line the streets of lower Manhattan Thursday morning to watch the New York Knicks parade down Broadway to celebrate the team's first NBA championship since 1973.
The ticker-tape parade is scheduled to kick off near a downtown park at 10 a.m. ET and work its way north up Broadway, coming to an end at City Hall.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani is set to hold a ceremony at the end of the parade, awarding the team -- which includes star players Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby-- keys to the city.
"To see great New York teams have that moment and for it to finally be our time, you know, it's one of those things you always dream of as a kid, especially growing up in the area," said Towns, a New Jersey native, on "Good Morning America" this week.
Alicia Keys will also take the stage at City Hall for a live performance of "Empire State of Mind" to celebrate the team.
The ticker-tape parade is a first for the Knicks, who did not celebrate with the famed tradition during their last wins in 1970 or 1973, according to the AP, who noted the winning team celebrated at other New York City locations instead.
The last ticker-tape parade to come for New York City belonged to the New York Liberty in 2024 following their WNBA championship win, according to Downtown Alliance, which compiles research on the parades.
The Downtown Alliance notes the tradition of the ticker-tape parade began in 1886 when Wall Street workers threw ticker-tape out the window to celebrate the Statue of Liberty unveiling.
The victory events will be heavily secured, drawing the largest number of police officers ever assigned to a planned event, the NYPD said Wednesday.
More than 10,000 members of the NYPD will safeguard the route.
The celebration comes after an awe-inspiring playoff run which saw the Knicks secure the team's first NBA title in more than 50 years with a 4-1 series win over the San Antonio Spurs.
The Knicks’ starting five joined "Good Morning America" Monday and discussed what the parade and what the championship means to the city.
"You never know if you're even going to be able to attend the parade and get close enough to see the greats, but to be the ones actually doing the path, and following behind some amazing legends before us in New York history. I think it's going to be something really, really special," Towns continued.
Knicks guard Mikal Bridges added with a smile, "I just want to bring my dog on the float."
Towns also touched on how much this championship means to a city and fanbase who have been evaded by success for so long.
"This was healing happening in real life, in real time," he said. "Knicks fans have been asking for this moment for 27 years, since 1999," he said, referencing the last Knicks' Finals appearance.
He added, "This is really a once-in-a-lifetime event you're watching in New York sports history."
