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By Hugh Cameron and Hollie Silverman
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New York City descended into chaos overnight as celebrations erupted after the Knicks clinched the NBA championship against the San Antonio Spurs in Texas. Elated fans damaged buses and police cars, leading to over 60 arrests.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) confirmed to Newsweek that a shooting occurred shortly after 2 a.m. on 43rd Street and Broadway.
A 17-year-old male was shot once in the left foot and rushed to Bellevue Hospital, the department said but is now in a stable condition. Three individuals have been taken into custody in connection with the shooting and a firearm was recovered from the scene.
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Charges are pending and an investigation is ongoing, the department added.
An NYPD spokesperson confirmed to Newsweek in an email on Sunday that an additional four slashings/stabbings and the destruction of five school buses, occurred as well.
Ten officers were also injured, including one who was punched in the face and another who was struck with a glass bottle, according to the spokesperson.
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Chaotic Scenes Following Knicks' First Win Since 1973
The New York Knicks defeated the Spurs 94 to 90 on Saturday evening, overcoming a 16-point deficit to take the series 4-1 and secure their first title since 1973. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani simply wrote “HISTORY” on X, while New York Governor Kathy Hochul wrote that the team “made all New Yorkers so proud.”
Following the game, which was played in San Antonio’s Frost Bank Center, large crowds flooded the streets of New York City to celebrate the win.
Footage and images circulating online show fans climbing onto a convoy of school buses along Times Square, with some damaging the vehicles and attempting to flip them over. One MTA bus was set on fire after burning clothing was thrown inside, per the New York Post, and can be seen ablaze as the celebrations continued.
The NYPD told Newsweek that a total of five school buses were either lit on fire or destroyed "with bats and people jumping on them."
"These school buses were being used to transport people from Manhattan to MetLife Stadium for the World Cup games," the spokesperson said.
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Five police cars were also damaged in the aftermath, according to the spokesperson, who said people took bats to the cars and jumped on top of them, shattering windows and windshields.
Footage circulating on social media showed fans attacking an empty police car outside Madison Square Garden.
In a particularly chaotic scene, footage posted on X shows police officers tackling fans and chasing down dozens of others with batons.
A total of 63 people were arrested, police said.
"Among the charges, assault on a police officer, criminal possession of weapon (gun), criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and obstruction of governmental administration," a spokesperson for the NYPD told Newsweek in an email.
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Fans Urged to Stay Calm
Speaking in San Antonio on Saturday evening shortly after the game, Knicks owner James Dolan urged fans to celebrate safely after the victory.
“We need to tell everybody in New York that we know that they’re celebrating, we want them to have a great time," said Dolan, interrupting guard Josh Hart’s press conference. “Please be safe. Right. Don’t get hurt, don’t hurt anybody.”
"We're going to have a parade on Thursday," Dolan added. "But we want everybody tonight in New York [to] be safe. Celebrate but be safe."
Mamdani confirmed that an official parade to celebrate the victory will be held on Thursday.
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