These elected officials were pinching themselves at the Knicks parade

New York City was electric Thursday morning. Despite the early morning crowds and humidity, an estimated two million people packed downtown in hopes of even getting a glimpse of the NBA championship team, the New York Knicks. 

Elected officials are Knicks fans, too, and they’re not immune to that electricity. Some of the most devoted of them, still high on the championship, braved lower Manhattan to take part in the festivities at City Hall. City & State spoke with some of the most diehard fans in politics to get a sense of how they’re feeling. 

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards

How long have you been a Knicks fan? 

Since I was in Pampers. I was born into the Knicks. 

Where’d you watch Game 5? 

I was at a gala. Because it was a conflict, they actually got a big television screen, so we were all chilling in tuxes.

Did you have faith they were going to win? In Game 5? 

Game four worried me. The Trump episode … But no, I never gave up faith. I felt like when they were always within a margin of 15, there was an opportunity. So, when I saw that margin hit 15, of course, as a Knicks fan, you have that trauma as a kid, like, “Oh my god, here we go again, they're gonna break our heart,” but once they hit that 15-point deficit, I was like, “Nope, we’re right back in it.” 

What time did you get here today? 

I got here at 6:02. … My staff thought I was crazy, I was like, “No, we’re leaving at 5 a.m.”

Do you have a favorite player on the team? 

(Jose) Alvarado. One, I love his sense of humor. But two, I felt he did a lot of stuff. He was an unsung hero in a lot of ways during this series, moving without the ball, just humble, and just out in the streets with, like, his shirt off, and just hanging out, and he's amongst the people. I mean, I love all of them. OG cracks me up. I watched him talking to Alicia Keys, and she’s like “Can you smile?”

New York City Council Member Sandy Nurse

How long have you been a Knicks fan? 

I’ve been a fan since, like, I've been in New York, so almost 20 years.

What made you want to become a fan at the time?

I wanted to talk shit to my sister, who likes other teams on the West Coast, and I wanted to talk shit, so I'm like, I'm locked in on Knicks, Mets, Bills, because I'm like, I'm here. … The Knicks have made me feel, especially in this job, giving me an outlet and kind of let off steam and talk shit and be rowdy, which I’m not allowed to do in my day job. 

What time did you get here today?

I was on the train at like, 6:45. It took forever.

On this run, was there one moment that was your favorite? 

My favorite moment was when Shaq took the Atlanta Hawk and tried to resuscitate it with CPR. And then there was the waving of the white flag. And I was like, “Oh, it’s over.”

I mean, obviously, Jalen Brunson, but who’s your favorite –

OG. First of all, I went through phases, because they were all pulling through so, so well. I feel like this whole year, each player of the starting lineup had their game. Josh had his games, Bridges had his game, KAT has had, like, forever games. Jalen was not shooting that well like the whole fucking Spurs series. I was like, “Bro, the shots are not shotting.” 

State Sen. Zellnor Myrie

What was your favorite moment of this entire run? I mean, as a fan, it felt unreal every step of the way. 

It felt unreal. The Hawks series, when we started blowing people out. … I was like, “Hold on, we’re an actual real fucking problem,” right? And we can beat anybody. 

Editor’s note: Myrie later sent a photo to City & State showing Allan Houston and John Starks had signed his Jalen Brunson jersey. 

Assembly Members Jordan Wright and Grace Lee

What time did you get here today? 

Wright: I’ve been running around here since like 6:30 a.m., trying to find my way in. 

Lee: I got here at 8 a.m. 

Oh right, we’re in your district right now. 

Lee: I walked here. I am very proud to be hosting the New York Knicks. 

So, favorite players from this team – or all time. 

Wright: My favorite player of all time, Carmelo Anthony, is the reason I went to Syracuse University. … I went to Syracuse basketball camp because I was so inspired by Carmelo Anthony. I remember watching that Final Four, and with my parents in Las Vegas, and when I was very young. I was 9 when he played in that Final Four. And now, Jalen Brunson. I love that he chose to come to New York. I love that he led. He did something that no one else could do. I'll give this to you, Lebron, Giannis, KD, Kyrie, I don't care. Jalen Brunson beats all of them. He's the king of New York.

Lee: Mikal Bridges. I just love him on the court. He’s got such great vibes. 

Assembly Member Keith Powers

Do you have a favorite moment from the whole run? 

Well I went to Game 5, and I was there in San Antonio, and I hugged John Starks as they won … it was a moment that I will remember the rest of my life. That’s probably only second to being in the Assembly with my colleagues for Game 1, while I was crawling on the floor, my colleagues watched me twinge and celebrate at the same time. 

Who’s your favorite player, all time and from this team? 

All time, probably Charles Oakley. And I mean, it’s impossible not to say Jalen Brunson. I love this team deeply, and I feel like the one thing this team has that other teams don’t have is an actual, full nucleus, but Brunson is the man. He’s a hero for the rest of my life and New York City. 

Assembly Member Larinda Hooks

Who’s your favorite player? 

Josh Hart isn’t getting as much (attention). He’s a gritty player, right? He’s the one who’s gonna get all the rebounds. He was getting rebounds from anywhere, ‘cause a lot people weren’t following their shot, right? But everybody has a role to play. But I think, to me, he was the unsung hero. 

When did you become a Knicks fan? 

Oh my goodness, since maybe 30, 40 years ago. 

Where did you get your ferch (unlicensed faux merchandise)?

In Queens.

Where in Queens?

On Northern Boulevard. 

State Sen. Jamaal Bailey

Some of your colleagues have been wearing ferch, but it looks like you have merch.

I will say, the bootleggers have come back. Unfortunately, the new generation don’t know about bootleggers, they went to a bootlegger and said, “Do you have tap to pay?” And the guy looked at him like he was crazy. But I have not bought any. I bought only authentic merchandise from Dick’s Sporting Goods. I bought it that night after I had myself a good little cry, I went to Dick’s Sporting Goods at Ridge Hill, being in the North Bronx, that’s closest to me.