Since Saturday night, the entirety of New York City has been immersed in the celebration of the Knicks’ first NBA championship since 1973. Following the team’s series-clinching victory in San Antonio, the streets were filled with fans, many of whom were heard belting out the chorus to Jay-Z’s “Empire State Of Mind.” Keys herself sang the song Saturday night at the Tribeca Film Festival, coinciding with the premiere of the documentary Alicia Keys: Girl From Hell’s Kitchen. It was only fitting that she appeared at today’s victory parade to mark the occasion.
After the Knicks—accompanied by celebrity superfans including Ben Stiller, Spike Lee, and Jon Stewart—traversed from Battery Park up Broadway, the festivities culminated in a ceremony at City Hall. Despite some minor technical difficulties, Keys took the stage alongside her son, Egypt, to perform the track that has effectively replaced Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” as the city’s unofficial anthem.
The event featured speeches from owner Jim Dolan, coach Mike Brown, and NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, as well as Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Master of ceremonies Mike Breen presided over the event, which also included a powerful gospel-inflected rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner” by Avery Wilson. You can watch clips of the performance below.
