You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load.See the Exultant Knicks Fans Who Have Waited 27 Years for ThisAfter a 27-year drought, the New York Knicks are headed to the N.B.A. finals. Fans flooded the streets of the city in celebration.The scenes in Midtown on Monday night after the Knicks won their playoff series against the Cavaliers. Credit...Vincent Alban for The New York TimesSee the Exultant Knicks Fans Who Have Waited 27 Years for ThisAfter a 27-year drought, the New York Knicks are headed to the N.B.A. finals. Fans flooded the streets of the city in celebration.The scenes in Midtown on Monday night after the Knicks won their playoff series against the Cavaliers. Credit...Vincent Alban for The New York TimesListen · 6:21 min May 26, 2026Updated 2:41 p.m. ETIn the aftermath of the Knicks’ victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night, which sent New York to the N.B.A. finals for the first time since 1999, Knicks guard Landry Shamet was asked to explain the mind-set of Knicks fandom.Even at Rocket Arena, in downtown Cleveland, the chants of Knicks fans threatened to drown out the hometown supporters for most of the game.“Knicks fans are a specific species of human that should be studied,” Shamet said. “They are special, man. They are crazy.”If nothing else, they are patient. After 27 often terrible years, the Knicks have rewarded their fans with 11 straight playoff victories, including last night’s blowout over the Cavaliers, 130-93.The euphoria spread all over the city. In Midtown Manhattan, thousands of fans blocked traffic outside Madison Square Garden, even though the game was in Ohio and the outdoor watch parties at the Garden had been suspended because of rowdy fans. Their opponent is yet to be determined, and the Knicks will probably be the underdogs, but the fans did not care.“I’m feeling awesome,” Tieheem Austin, 51, said at a watch party at Richie’s in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. “New York is here!” He circulated through the bar dabbing up patrons, almost all of them decked out in Knicks swag. “New York versus everybody. And we’re going to win this. This has been long overdue.”Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe.AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENT