New York City is preparing for one of the largest victory celebrations in its history as millions of fans are expected to line the streets Thursday for a ticker-tape parade honoring the NBA champion New York Knicks.

The parade is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and follow the famed Canyon of Heroes route in Lower Manhattan, traveling along Broadway from Battery Park to City Hall.

New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch said officials expect attendance to reach into the millions, potentially surpassing the crowd of roughly one million people that attended the city’s 2012 parade for the New York Giants. More than 10,000 police officers have been assigned to help manage the event and ensure public safety.

The celebration marks the Knicks’ first NBA championship in 53 years and the franchise’s third title overall. It is also the first ticker-tape parade in the team’s history.

The championship run captivated basketball fans across the country. The Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games in the NBA Finals, overcoming double-digit deficits in each contest. Their most dramatic comeback came in Game 4, when New York rallied from a 29-point deficit, the largest comeback in NBA Finals history.

The title was clinched in Game 5 behind a dominant performance from Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, who scored 45 points to secure the championship and cement his place among the franchise’s all-time greats.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the parade shortly after the Knicks captured the title, calling it a long-awaited celebration for generations of fans who endured decades of disappointment and near misses.

Businesses, schools, and transit agencies throughout the city have been preparing for large crowds, with many fans arriving before sunrise to secure spots along the parade route.

Source: Bleacher Report