A devoted Knicks superfan marked his team’s NBA Finals victory by visiting his father’s grave and laying a Jalen Brunson jersey on it.
Chris Maldonado, hailing from the Bronx, went to Mount Hope Cemetery in Yonkers on Tuesday. He carried along his No. 11 jersey, a Finals hat, a Knicks logo chain, and orange and blue flowers to honor his father, Jose, who passed away 15 years ago at the age of 68.
Looking at the grave, he emotionally reflected, “We did it, Dad. You did it. You made me a Nick fan,” as captured in a touching video he shared on Instagram.
In the video, he added, “This man here, he took us to the promised land,” while placing Brunson’s jersey on his father’s gravestone. It appeared that some people were concerned he might have removed his Brunson jersey for the visit, to which he reassured them it was just about the timing.
Maldonado, 47, mentioned he got his hat and chain back but opted to leave the flowers there. The Knicks were the only sports team that he and his father, a Puerto Rican immigrant who moved to New York at 16, could agree on.
Growing up, he recalled enjoying various teams, but the Knicks were the common ground. “My dad was a Yankees fan, and I was a Mets fan. He cheered for the Jets; I rooted for the Giants. The Knicks? We were always on the same page,” he said.
Even after he moved away and got married, they maintained their connection through phone calls and attending games together.
Maldonado reflected on how his father worked hard to support their family of four and preferred his wife not to work. “When he came home, we would eagerly await his arrival to catch the game,” he shared.
They even played basketball together, with his father taking him and his friends to the park. Jose was a big Patrick Ewing fan but had a unique rule: he only bought his son Michael Jordan sneakers after a bit of persuasion.
At the cemetery, he also spoke to his mother, Madeline, who passed away four years ago. She used to prepare special meals on game days. “Mom, you always watched every game with us. When the Knicks won, you’d be so excited to answer the phone. Then I’d ask for Dad,” he reminisced.
“She cherished anything that brought us together,” he affectionately added.
Now living in New Jersey, Maldonado attended the Knicks’ Finals victory alongside his wife, son, and young grandchildren. “It was truly a magical moment,” he said, reflecting that sharing it with his dad would have made it perfect.
