Knicks Celebrate Historic NBA Championship with First Pitches at Yankee Stadium
June 18, 2026
Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart kicked off the Knicks’ championship celebration by throwing ceremonial first pitches at Yankee Stadium ahead of the Yankees-White Sox game.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau praised Brunson and Hart for leadership and grit, noting the fanbase’s support and the team’s captivating run.
The Knicks’ postseason run featured a record 13 straight road wins and a 16-3 postseason record (.842), tying the Celtics for the second-best mark since the current format began in 2003, with nine straight road wins and a 283-point point differential.
Ahead of a ticker-tape parade in Lower Manhattan, the Knicks’ victory tour included media appearances on NBC and ABC and stops on The Today Show, Late Night, and Good Morning America.
Brunson earned Finals MVP after averaging 32.6 points per game, including a 45-point performance in the clinching 94-90 win; Hart is the great-nephew of Yankees great Elston Howard, whose No. 32 is retired in Monument Park.
Brunson and Hart received standing ovations, with Brunson tossing to catcher J.C. Escarra and Hart to utilityman Max Schuemann during the ceremony.
Brunson previously threw a ceremonial first pitch for a Mets–Yankees game in July 2024 after signing a four-year, $156.5 million contract with the Knicks.
The New York City parade is anticipated to be one of the largest in the city’s history, commemorating the Knicks’ first NBA championship in 53 years.
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Taylorville Daily News • Jun 18, 2026
Brunson and Hart throw out first pitches at Yankee Stadium as Knicks celebrate NBA title