Updated 11m ago
Special Knicks-themed voting sticker
The NYC Board of Elections is encouraging Knicks fans to vote early.
🏀Headed to @nyknicks Parade?
Vote Early & Score a Special Sticker – TODAY ONLY,
while supplies last! Polls open 8AM-4PM🗳️ pic.twitter.com/8hjDb61VH4
— NYC Board of Elections (@BOENYC) June 18, 2026
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.
34m ago
NYC Mayor Mamdani on float with KAT
Mayor Zohran Mamdani was spotted dancing on a float with Karl-Anthony Towns.
CBS News New York
41m ago
Mikal Bridges is all smiles as he walks along route
Mikal Bridges was spotted recording all of the action and excitement on a camcorder as he walked through the parade.
55m ago
MVP Jalen Brunson arrives
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.
10:28 AM
Subway skipping stations, no bus in Lower Manhattan
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.
10:16 AM
Celebrity fans show their support
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.
10:08 AM
Knicks players begin walking to floats
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.
9:59 AM
NBA legend, former Knick Rod Strickland calls season “incredible”
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.
9:44 AM
Buses with Knicks players begin to arrive
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.
Updated 9:33 AM
“The Baklava Guy” hands out free dessert
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.
CBS News New York
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.
Updated 9:12 AM
Transportation throwback
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.
To celebrate the @nyknicks Championship Parade tomorrow, we’re once again throwing it back to 1973! Tomorrow morning, a vintage R32 will run on the A line from Harlem to lower Manhattan to take Knicks fans to the parade.
Trains will start running at 7 a.m. at 168 St, and run… pic.twitter.com/jq7tgMMKJc
— MTA (@MTA) June 18, 2026
Updated 8:35 AM
Brunson, Hart throw out first pitches at Yankee Stadium
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.
Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images
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.
Updated 8:12 AM
Same car has led NYC parades for 74 years
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.
CBS News New York
7:48 AM
Subway skipping stops
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
7:27 AM
Viewing pens are full, NYPD says
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.
Updated 7:25 AM
Map shows parade route
NYC Mayor’s Office
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.
Updated 7:00 AM
Fans start lining up early
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.
CBS News New York
One fan was even spotted walking down the street waving a Knicks flag.
Updated 6:38 AM
Knicks parade security to include record 10,000 officers
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.
CBS News New York
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.
Updated 6:38 AM
How to get to the parade
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.
Updated 6:38 AM
Items prohibited at the parade
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
