New York (AFP) – The World Cup carnival arrived in New York on Saturday, but it was drowned out by the city's elation after the hometown Knicks broke a 53-year curse to win the NBA Finals.
Issued on: 14/06/2026 - 06:06
3 min Reading time
Knicks fans celebrate in Central Park after the New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs to win their first NBA title in 53 years © kena betancur / AFP
The 2026 World Cup debut of five-time winners Brazil, who ground out an uninspiring 1-1 draw against Morocco, was overshadowed by the Knicks' 94-90 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.New York erupted in celebration in the aftermath, with fans letting off fireworks and a cacophony of cheers and car horns reverberating around the city."Knicks in five!" chanted crowds after the hometown basketball dynasty sealed the seven-match series in five."It's been so long, it's been such a long time coming, you know?" Stephen Maltz, a 31-year-old airline pilot, said at a viewing party in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn."And it's just in a time where the city needs to have something to get stoked about, it's got to be this," added Maltz, who tore off his signature orange and blue Knicks T-shirt and ran down the street in celebration.
