New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani highlighted Knicks star Jalen Brunson during his inaugural address on Thursday, even appearing to mimic one of Brunson’s well-known celebration moves.
The mention sparked a variety of reactions online.
Images of the moment circulated widely, and while some Knicks supporters appreciated the shout-out, many others criticized Mamdani for his democratic socialist viewpoints.
Chris Manno, a former Kansas City Chiefs practice squad player, was among the critics, suggesting that Brunson would likely “dislike” the new mayor. Manno tweeted that the Knicks captain would be unhappy discovering how much of his upcoming contract would help individuals who, in his view, weren’t motivated to work in the city.
A cryptocurrency influencer known as Dr. Evil of Crypto remarked that Brunson would probably not share Mamdani’s beliefs. They noted, “Brunson is a conservative, religious family man. He will never associate with this hateful, despicable person.” It’s worth mentioning that Brunson’s religious and political views remain largely private, as he hasn’t publicly commented on them. He did attend Villanova, a private Catholic institution.
A local news account, City Desk NYC, critiqued Mamdani’s gesture, labeling it a “clown act.” They added that while Mamdani’s policies could undermine New York’s future, he was using Brunson’s celebration as a publicity stunt.
Criticism continued with various users mockingly condemning Mamdani’s actions.
At the same time, some individuals praised his references during the speech.
In the recent mayoral election, Brunson received 27 write-in votes.
Back in October, the Knicks sent Mamdani a cease-and-desist letter for using a logo that resembled the team’s in campaign materials, as confirmed by Fox News Digital. Mamdani had shared the logo on Instagram with the caption, “This is our year. This is our time. #NewYorkForever,” tagged at Madison Square Garden, but it has since been taken down.
The Knicks responded, clarifying, “The New York Knicks have sent a cease-and-desist letter to New York City mayoral candidate Zoran Mamdani regarding his use of the New York Knicks logo to promote his candidacy. The Knicks do not support Mr. Mamdani as a mayoral candidate and oppose the use of the copyrighted logo. We will pursue all legal remedies to uphold our rights.”
