New York Knicks win NBA championship for the first time in 53 years, celebration spirals out of control in Manhattan

The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 on Saturday and were crowned NBA champions for the first time since 1973. The fans' celebration turned into a riot in New York: crowds blocked traffic, attacked a school bus, and police arrested 56 people.

The New York Knicks were crowned NBA champions on Saturday, June 13, 2026, when they defeated the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in the fifth game of the finals series. The Knicks won the finals series 4-1 and reached the top of the league for the first time since 1973. This is the team's third NBA title in history, with the previous championships coming in 1970 and 1973.

From the final whistle to street chaos

After the whistle, a massive celebration erupted on Manhattan that quickly spiraled out of control. Crowds blocked traffic in several parts of the city, including shutting down 10th Avenue. On 42nd Street, fans attacked an empty school bus: some climbed on top while others smashed it with scooters, according to The New York Times.

The New York Police Department reported that 56 people were arrested, of whom 15 were charged. Ten police officers were injured in the riots.

Mayor presents symbolic keys

New York Mayor Zoran Mamdani promised to present the team with the city's symbolic keys to commemorate the historic achievement. The 53-year wait is over for New York basketball fans.