New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani charmed the partisan crowd at the Knicks' NBA championship parade on Thursday in Manhattan by shouting out a series of former Knicks, including two current Toronto Raptors.
"For 53 years we have waited," Mamdani began, before recounting great and not-so-great memories since. He mentioned big names like Amar'e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, Jeremy Lin, Marcus Camby, Charles Oakley, and several players only hardcore fans might recall, such as Langston Galloway, Mardy Collins, and Renaldo Balkman.
Near the end, Mamdani paid respect to RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, two popular Knicks who were traded to Toronto to acquire OG Anunoby on Dec. 30, 2023. Barrett, picked third overall in 2019, had been seen as a franchise saviour and was a fan favourite. Quickley, the 25th pick in 2020, was a runner-up for the sixth man of the year award as a Knick.
"This championship belongs to them too, because championships aren't just built in one season," Mamdani said. "It belongs to Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Donte DiVincenzo, Julius Randle, and also to a coach who laid the groundwork, Tom Thibodeau."
The Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games, losing only once during their championship run. Mamdani concluded, "What a gift it is to be brought together by pure, unfiltered joy."
