NEW YORK — The hottest Instagram spot in Manhattan isn’t a new restaurant or bagel shop. It’s a subway entrance.Just a stone’s throw from Madison Square Garden, at 34th Street and Eighth Avenue, tucked away in the shadow of one of the most beloved spaces in the city, the entrance serving the A, C and E trains has become an unlikely attraction after being painted orange and blue in honor of the New York Knicks’ first NBA Finals appearance in 27 years. Half-basketballs painted around the light posts at the top of the steps complete the tribute to the home team.In just a few days, the station entrance, which has been transformed into a work of art overnight with a couple of fresh coats of paint, has created viral attention, with crowds of Knicks fans stopping by to take a selfie, shoot videos and celebrate a playoff run that has energized the city.On Tuesday, people of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds stopped by the newly painted entrance and what has become a cultural touchstone for thousands of New Yorkers. Transit workers stopped by on their lunch breaks to take pictures. A police officer pulled out his phone to capture the moment. Fans yelled “Go, Knicks!” as they walked by.“It’s definitely become like a spectacle,” said Knicks fan Khairi Price, a 35-year-old photographer from Jamaica, Queens.Price came to see what all the talk was about after seeing a video of city workers painting the station on social media. Wearing a Jalen Brunson jersey and a Knicks hat, Price couldn’t help but smile as he watched a steady stream of Knicks fans gathered around the entrance.Knicks fan Khairi Price takes a photo in front of the newly painted subway entrance near Madison Square Garden. (Nick Friedell / The Athletic)“When the Knicks are doing good, it brings the city together,” he said. “It brings people out. You have all the native New Yorkers coming out from all over just to see this.”For many fans, the paint on the entrance represents more than just a facelift. It’s a symbol of togetherness for a city that is pulling for its favorite basketball team, and a reminder of just how much fun things can be when civic pride permeates New Yorkers across the boroughs.“You’re born a Knicks fan,” Shadia, a 44-year-old from Brooklyn, said after taking some pictures in front of the stop. “We’ve loved other teams, but you’re born a Knicks fan. … It’s the best fan base ever. What other city is gonna do this?”Shadia, wearing a red Knicks hat and a 2026 Eastern Conference champions T-shirt, saw a post on Instagram and made her way near the Garden to get pictures with her aunt, Stephanie, who was also wearing Knicks gear on top of her dress.“This shows the camaraderie of the city, the love of this city. No matter what we go through, it don’t matter, really, what borough you’re from,” Shadia said. “Win or lose, we’ve been here since Day 1. Ride or die. That’s why you gotta stick with it. That’s New York.”