Alvarado Brings Knicks Title to Puerto Rican Day Parade, Joined by Mayor Mamdani

Alvarado Brings Knicks Title to Puerto Rican Day Parade, Joined by Mayor Mamdani

Less than 24 hours after the New York Knicks ended a 53-year wait for an NBA championship, guard Jose Alvarado carried the celebration to Fifth Avenue on June 14, 2026, riding a float at the 69th annual National Puerto Rican Day Parade in Manhattan. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani joined him on the float, along with Knicks teammate Jordan Clarkson.

Alvarado, who is of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent and represents Puerto Rico in international competition, grew up in Queens and attended Christ the King High School. His appearance at the parade carried particular resonance: the event is one of the largest annual celebrations of Puerto Rican culture in the United States, and Alvarado has long been a visible figure in New York's Latino communities. Video from the parade showed him shirtless on the float, rapping along to Jadakiss's verse on the Ja Rule 2004 track "New York" - a song that had been widely adopted as an informal anthem during the Knicks' title run. Mamdani also sang along during the moment.

The Knicks clinched the championship on June 13, 2026, with a 94-90 Game 5 victory over the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio - the franchise's first NBA title since 1973. Alvarado, acquired from the New Orleans Pelicans in a midseason trade, contributed meaningfully to the run, including a prominent role in the fourth quarter of Game 4, when New York overcame a deficit of more than 29 points. The Knicks also trailed by double digits twice in Game 5 before closing out the series.

A full franchise championship parade through New York City is scheduled for Thursday, June 19, 2026, with the complete Knicks roster expected to participate.