Since the New York Knicks pulled off their most electric playoff runs in forever, beating the Cleveland Cavaliers to earn a spot in the NBA Finals, fans have lit up social media. The orange and blue love is freely flowing over the dream they’ve been manifesting since the Knicks last made the Finals in 1999, before a whole generation of Gen Z fans existed.
Now, day-one Knicks fans, from NY Joe to A-listers, are flooding X, Threads and Instagram with clips from the courtside celebration, sharing New York City’s victory and prayers that the team will soon be sporting flashy championship rings. Here are some of the most captivating reactions.
Spike Lee is the ultimate fan
We all know that there’s no celebrity that reps the New York team harder than Spike Lee. He’s chronically courtside, making him the ultimate celebrity Knicks fan. For a man who’s been cheering on the team in their signature colors since childhood, it was the sweetest moment when he got to witness them receive the Bob Cousy Trophy as the Eastern Conference Champions.
He took to IG to praise point guard Jalen Brunson, who stepped up his scoring to lead the Knicks through the playoffs, and was unanimously named the Eastern Conference Finals MVP, earning him the Larry Bird Trophy. Yep, Spike got the good angle.
Jordyn Woods stands by her man
Media personality Jordyn Woods showed love for Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns, whom she got engaged to in December 2025, over the Knicks’ accomplishment. “I’ve watched you make it to the Conference Finals three years in a row. Through every high and low, you’ve kept your head down, stayed optimistic, and remained the most consistent, genuine teammate, family member, and now fiancé. No matter where life takes us, it’s only up from here,” she wrote on social media, adding that they just needed four more wins to take it all the way home.
Mike Brown is that coach
Of course, teamwork involves more than just the players on the court. It also includes the coach who puts the play in motion. That goes to Knicks coach Mike Brown, who had been fired by the Sacramento Kings in 2024 for a disappointing season. Knicks fans cheekily pointed out he just needed some talent to take it all the way to the playoffs.
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A New York City charm
Taking it one step even further, New York City gave props to its mayor, Zohran Mamdani, joking he’d been in the role for less than six months and already got the Knicks closer to glory. Fans have been touting the newbie as the city’s good luck charm throughout the Eastern Conference season.
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Mamdani himself couldn’t help but hop on social media to celebrate the team’s 11th straight win this season…
.@NYCSanitation I’d like to report a sweep
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) May 26, 2026
Celebs who shed a tear
Brooklyn native Tracy Morgan was moved to literal tears seeing his beloved team secure their spot in the upcoming finals. The last time the comedian and actor saw them head to that heralded court was when he was still performing sketches on Saturday Night Live.
Truer words have never been spoken than those of rapper Cochise. This hits deep with all of us, knowing that the team has a chance to bring home the NBA championship for the first time since 1973, when they won against the LA Lakers.
I MIGHT CRY RIGHT NOW . I THOUGHT I WAS NEVER GON SEE THE KNICKS IN THE FINALS. YALL WASNT THERE WHEN OUR STARTERS WERE LITERAL FINANCIAL ADVISORS
— COCHISE (@cochise) May 26, 2026
Knicks pull off a rare feat
The Knicks’ sweep does earn them some GOAT bragging rights when you realize only ten other teams have reached the same achievement of winning 10 games in a row during a playoff streak. It definitely puts the boys in blue and orange jerseys up there as one of the hardest-working in the league.
Are the Knicks the greatest basketball team of all time?
— Murray Hill Guy (@MurrayHillGuy1) May 26, 2026
The Knicks take Manhattan
If you weren’t able to be on the streets of New York City in person when the Knicks won, just know the city shut it down the minute the team secured the win. The iconic Empire State Building was lit up in the Knicks’ blue and orange colors to celebrate the win for all of Manhattan to see.
Knicks die-hards who couldn’t be at the Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, where the Knicks scored that final win to put them in the playoffs, were sending winning vibes through the airwaves as they watched it live at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall with fellow fanatics. Peep the Knicks merch in the crowd, proving Brunson was the player we all had our eyes on this season.
Knicks watch party at Radio City is nuts. Best $10 I ever spent. pic.twitter.com/2wlAdL2LvN
— THE GARDEN IS ROCKING (@MSG_Rocking) May 26, 2026
Fans have dug up footage of the Knicks’ last championship game in 1999 — including mega-fan Spike Lee in the crowd! Only time will tell how many famous faces we’ll see at the championship game.
How much have things changed since 1999? Here’s what celebrity row looked like for Game 4 of the Finals – the last year the Knicks made it that far until 2026 pic.twitter.com/6cf6mrxDCy
— Velodus✨ (@velodus) May 26, 2026