Zohran Mamdani: Knicks 'won Like New York' As Nyc Celebrates Title After 53 Years

Editor's note: Follow for live updates and highlights from the Knicks championship parade.

NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani gave a rousing speech before handing the New York Knicks players keys to the city after a ticker-tape parade through the Canyon of Heroes.

The Knicks broke a 53-year championship drought with a five-game romp in the NBA Finals over the San Antonio Spurs, and more than a million people gathered in lower Manhattan to celebrate the triumph.

During Mamdani's speech, he gave a rundown of the Knicks' history from the moment in 1973 when the team won its second championship.

The mayor thanked the players and coaches who came before them, naming Tom Thibodeau, who was fired last season after leading New York to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years.

"This championship belongs to them too, because championships aren't just built in one season," he said.

Mamdami spoke about the odds the Knicks faced, especially when they were down by 29 points in the second half in Game 4 and came back to win on OG Ananoby's tip-in with 1.2 seconds left.

"The Knicks did not just win for New York City," he said. "They won like New York City. What is New York if not your back up against the wall, a dream that feels just out of reach, a rent payment you don't know how you'll ever make, 99.6% of the world stacked against you. And who are New Yorkers if not people who hear those odds and smile and ask, 'Why are you giving me a head start?'

"This is our city. This is our team. For 53 years, we watched; for 53 years, we waited. Now we've won," Mamdani said. "Knicks in!? Knicks in?!"

With the crowd yelling back, "FIVE!"

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Zohran Mamdani hails Knicks, NYC at championship parade