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2 million fans packed Lower Manhattan for Knicks parade. NYPD says most were peaceful.
By
Charles Lane
Published Jun 18, 2026
Modified Jun 23, 2026
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Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
By
Charles Lane
Published Jun 18, 2026
Modified Jun 23, 2026
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Millions of Knicks fans leaving Lower Manhattan’s ticker-tape parade dispersed Thursday with minimal commotion and 13 arrests, according to the NYPD.
NYPD Chief of Department Michael LiPetri estimated the crowd to be more than 2 million people. Officials did not say how he arrived at that estimate but said the department’s aviation unit was not involved.
As of early Thursday evening, police had reported one stabbing. A person broke a glass bottle and slashed a 20-year-old man in the neck around noon following a dispute at Centre Street and Chambers Street, the NYPD said. The victim’s condition was unknown and the assailant escaped capture, according to officials.
Before the parade started, police stopped an 18-year-old who claimed in a widely circulated social media video that he was trying to get to school to take a test. An NYPD spokesperson said the boy jumped a barricade and became combative. He was given a court summons and released at the scene, police said.
The NYPD also arrested a woman for allegedly scratching a police officer as she attempted to pass a police barricade.
Other charges for those arrested included resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
The Knicks’ first championship win in 53 years captivated regular New Yorkers and the city’s political class alike. Immediately following the Knicks’ come-from-behind win against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a ticker-tape parade along the traditional route from Bowling Green to City Hall through Broadway’s Canyon of Heroes.
Some 200 people were arrested over NBA Finals week for brawling, chasing down Spurs fans, shooting people and damaging taxis, police cars and school buses, officials have said.
NYPD prepared for millions of paradegoers and potential violence by deploying roughly a third of the city’s police force to lock down Lower Manhattan.
In an attempt to ease crowds, police cleared cars from the streets and closed off access to subway stations south of Canal, but the MTA said service at most of those stations continued through the parade.
Full service resumed shortly after the festivities Thursday afternoon.
Clarification: Due to conflicting information from the MTA and the NYPD, this story has been updated to clarify details about access to and service at certain subway stations during the parade.
Tagged
manhattan
public safety
Charles Lane
Charles is a Day-of reporter focused on breaking news and enterprise. He’s very friendly and can be reached at [email protected], or more securely on whatsapp/signal 631-295-6715
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