Mamdani parties with Knicks champion Jose Alvarado on Puerto Rican Day Parade float in New York
Mayor Zohran Mamdani Joins Knicks Champion Jose Alvarado in Puerto Rican Day Parade
On Sunday, Mayor Zohran Mamdani paraded alongside New York Knicks superstar Jose Alvarado in a jubilant street procession that celebrated the team's historic 2024 NBA championship. The two officials and the champion—along with several teammates—lined a float that marched through downtown Manhattan as part of the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade.
The parade came less than 24 hours after the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 94‑90 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to capture their first title since 1973. The victory had sparked city‑wide celebrations, and the mayor flew overnight from San Antonio back to New York to join the festivities.
Alvarado, a native of New York City, spent most of the float’s run shirt‑less and in good spirits. Video footage shows him rapping the Jadakiss verse from Ja Rule’s 2004 hit “New York,” while the mayor joined in, singing along to lines that have become a Knicks anthem. The float also featured fellow Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson, who had been part of the team’s championship run.
Alvarado, who grew up in Queens and attended Christ the King High School, is of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent and represents Puerto Rico in international competition. He was acquired by the Knicks from the New Orleans Pelicans in a trade that, while minor, proved significant. Alvarado played a key role in the fourth quarter of Game 4, helping the team mount a 29‑point comeback that kept their championship hopes alive.
The parade will be the first of several celebratory events for the Knicks, with the entire roster set to appear on floats during a championship parade scheduled for Thursday. The team's victory over the Spurs marked a dramatic comeback in Game 5, when the Knicks erased a double‑digit deficit twice to secure the win.
Mayor Mamdani’s presence at the parade underscored the city’s pride in its new champions. The event, part of the longstanding Puerto Rican Day celebrations, drew crowds that cheered on the mayor and the Knicks as they marched through the city streets, marking a moment of unity and triumph for New York City.