The Knicks players and staff may have been the ones receiving championship rings tonight, but that certainly didn’t stop the thousands in attendance from feeling like a part of the celebration.
As fans walked to their seats hours before the game, they snapped quick photos of the championship graphic on the Jumbotron or looked over the championship shirts that were on the back of every seat. Some fans hugged the ushers they’ve come to know over the years, enjoying a moment of shared joy. “We did it! We did it!”
That joy could be felt throughout the entire ring ceremony, where each Knicks front office member, coach, and player had their chance to stand before the crowd and receive their ring to thunderous applause.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 20: A general view as the New York Knicks World Champions banner is raised during the Ring Ceremony prior to the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden on October 20, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Brooklyn native Jose Alvarado received the first arena-shaking roar of the night when he received his ring from Knicks great Walt Clyde Frazier. There were plenty more to come, including when former Knick, and current 76er, Ariel Hukporti wheeled out on a knee walker after his recent Achilles surgery.
The biggest cheers came for the playoff heroes. Karl-Anthony Towns was the first starter to walk out, and the crowd would have risen to their feet, but they had been standing for almost 20 minutes already. Game 4 hero OG Anunoby was greeted by cheers and the entire stadium melding into chants of “OG! OG! OG”
By the time Jalen Brunson came out to receive his ring, the crowd was in a fervor.
Chants of “MVP” meshed with chants of “(Expletive) Wemby,” as Knicks fans simply seemed happy to scream support for their team.
When Brunson took the mic a few minutes later before the championship banner was raised and told the crowd the team wanted to “do it again this year,” the Mecca of Basketball exploded one last time.
They all had their moment, but maybe it wouldn’t be their only one.
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 20: Walt Clyde Frazier presents the 2025-26 NBA Championship rings to the New York Knicks before the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 20, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)