On Monday, fans lined up outside NBA stores in midtown, eager to snag Knicks merchandise following the team’s landmark NBA championship win.
Many supporters waited over an hour outside a Fifth Avenue store, hoping to find some Knicks gear. It certainly seemed preferable to ordering online, since deliveries wouldn’t be arriving for at least a month.
Ron J.N. Baptiste, a fan from Brooklyn, shared his experience: “The line is an hour and a half. When I got there, they didn’t have any finals jerseys or patches. They were all sold out! I wanted a patch! I came to get one!” He added that more items might arrive by Wednesday or Thursday.
The excitement in New York continues to grow after guard Jalen Brunson, Finals MVP, and his team beat the San Antonio Spurs in five games, securing the NBA championship for the first time since 1973.
Paul Seapole from South Ozone Park mentioned he wanted to buy a Brunson jersey, a patch, and a hat for his son. He ordered online, but it won’t arrive until July 20, so he plans to take his son to Thursday’s parade.
Mayor Zoran Mamdani noted that the upcoming champions’ parade at the Gorge of Heroes could be the largest in the city’s history.
Outside the NBA Store, where the queue wrapped around several blocks, fans expressed their disappointment at the dwindling stock of Knicks merchandise for the parade.
A Flushing resident, who only identified himself as Ed L., shared his frustrations about online orders: “I had to come here because online I have to wait until next month. July 26 was the earliest delivery I could get.” He ended up purchasing a $50 Knicks shirt.
Will Crespo, a construction worker from Long Island, was happy with his finds, which included three gold “championship chains” for the parade. “I also bought a hat,” he said. “I grabbed a T-shirt, but the size I wanted wasn’t there anymore, along with the hat that had the champion patch on the side.” He mentioned, “There was too much mayhem there.”
