SOUTHWEST BROOKLYN — It took 53 years, but it was worth the wait: Southwest Brooklyn celebrated the New York Knicks victory against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA finals, securing their first NBA championship since 1973.
Bars and restaurants along Third and Fifth Avenues in Bay Ridge were packed with fans watching Finals MVP Jalen Brunson lead the franchise to glory.
The celebration was on inside Skinflints. Photo: Gerard Bell
“The vibe in Bay Ridge was absolutely electric,” said local Mario Caggiano. “You saw people cheering, high-fiving, shaking hands, hugging, laughing, dancing, waving flags, and proudly wearing their Knicks jerseys. It was a fun-loving crowd that came together to celebrate. The energy was positive, local businesses benefited from the increased crowds, and it was wonderful to see so many smiles throughout the neighborhood.”
Fans were seen high-fiving each other, waving at FDNY trucks and cars driving along Third Avenue as they beeped their horns.
Longtime Knicks fan Ramon DeJesus enjoys the mural. Photo: Ray DeJesus
“Watching the Knicks come back from a 29-point deficit showed tremendous heart,” Caggiano said, recalling Game 4. “Throughout this playoff run, they’ve played with grit, strong defense, class and sportsmanship. New Yorkers appreciate teams that never quit, and that’s exactly what happened. Events like this remind us that despite our differences, New Yorkers can still come together in celebration, support local businesses, and share pride in our city and our teams.”
“Great night to live in Bay Ridge just off of Third Avenue,” said local Walter Larsen. “Everyone seemed to be well-behaved. My son went back home to Cape Cod in the afternoon. He wishes he stayed another day.”
“The atmosphere was great,” said Jamie Verderame. “It was crazy and fun. Bay Ridge showed up to support the team. I’m proud of the team. It’s a great group of guys. This will be a great memory for the neighborhood and the city.”
Local businesses also benefitted from Knicks fever.
Before the victory, longtime artist Eleni Misetzis painted a mural outside of Mexican eatery Tacos Por Favor, 8125 Fifth Ave., of the team’s starting five.
“I think it’s really a New York thing,” she said. “I’ve traveled to 16 cities last year painting. I was on a flight every six weeks. People have sports pride, but we have New York pride. It’s very different. It’s a New York thing.”
The celebration was on inside Skinflints. Photo: Gerard Bell
Card shop E and J Boutique, 6906 Fort Hamilton Parkway, also experienced a boom.
“The Knicks winning the finals meant so much to all the fans,” said Jessie Harrison, co-owner of the shop. “As a small business, the Knicks just being in the finals gave us such a large boost in business. It’s what New York city needed. It brought our community together. We had customers calling us, crying tears of joy after they won the finals.”
She added, “They know we are all die-hard fans at E and J. All our Knicks autographs and cards sold out, but we are restocking now. We have tons of restaurants and bars in our neighborhood and a lot of those owners and staff shop with us, too. This championship helped us all build an even stronger business.”
The team also has Brooklyn ties as point guard Jose Alvarado is a Williamsburg native.
“I can’t put it in words,” he told MSG Network following the victory. “This is special. This is something that we’re going to celebrate for life. I’m so happy we got it done, and the way we did it, it was special.”
The celebration was on inside Skinflints. Photo: Gerard Bell
During the fourth quarter of game four, Alvarado played a key role in helping the team make the greatest comeback in an NBA Finals game.
“This whole playoff is whoever name was called, they came up and we had everybody’s back,” he explained. “That game was necessary. I was in the fourth quarter, and we made plays. Some games, like today, [Brunson] did what he does, what he was supposed to do and carried us. It’s just little things like that, but [for me] that was the best eight points of probably my career.”
The official watch party at Radio City Music Hall also had thousands of fans jumping for joy.
The Knicks ticker-tape parade will start in lower Manhattan on June 18 at 10 a.m. It will be the first-ever for the franchise, which didn’t have parades during the 1970 and 1973 championships.
SUNSET PARK — “As a resident of Marine Park, one of the great surprises I found biking around Industry City and visiting Japan Village was to discover Bush Terminal Park. I continue to be amazed at the serene hideaways that the city offers in some of the busiest places — and, still, with an iconic view.”
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — ‘A miracle that no one was killed …’ That’s what neighbors are saying about the collapse of the Hotel St. George marquee. Shown in this photograph are workmen beginning the removal and repair of the historic, old neon sign at the corner, referencing a relic of Brooklyn Heights’ past: the St. George Hotel.
ATLANTIC AVENUE — Exhausted shopper with cluster of bags and goods from mall at Boerum Place stops to look at huge construction site across the street. “Is that REALLY going to be a jail??” Her male companion is reassuring, “Nothing like Rikers … this is 21st Century.”
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — Overheard in line at one of most popular pastry outlets on Montague Street: “Hope I can get them into a camp …” A mother with two pre-schoolers in tow was showing a friend the Dodge Y flyer for Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 18.
