New York celebrates the Knicks’ first NBA championship in 53 years
After a 53-year wait, the New York Knicks won their first NBA championship, sparking celebrations throughout New York City. Thousands of fans lined the streets of Manhattan during the historic ticker tape parade, turning a weekday Thursday into a spontaneous celebration as the city honored its winning team.
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If you can dream it, you can achieve it—that’s the mindset New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. has going into the second half of the 2026 MLB season.
In 2024, Chisholm and the Yankees came close to ending the Big Four Sports League championship drought in New York. The Los Angeles Dodgers, the team against which the Yankees will open their second half Friday night in the Bronx, completed the fall classic in five games in their favor.
But Chisholm witnessed what a title parade looks like in New York last month, when the New York Knicks broke a 53-year drought and sent the five boroughs and surrounding tri-state area into a frenzy of joy, tears and countless other emotions.
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Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the New York Yankees smiles during a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts on June 25, 2026. (Natalie Reed/MLB Photos)
The obvious goal for every MLB team is to win the World Series in October, especially for the 27-time champions in pinstripes. But Chisholm told Fox News Digital that his conversations with Knicks players during the NBA title celebration only reinforced his need to lift the trophy himself.
“Me and a couple of my teammates talked about it, and a couple (Knicks) talked about it. I talked to Jalen about it and just saw how it felt. I could hear it in his voice and he got goosebumps over and over again talking about it. It’s just a feeling you want to experience,” Chisholm said, highlighting his collaboration with Corona on their limited-edition Beach Connect T-shirts.
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“I talk to my boys about it and we all agree.”
Chisholm, a soon-to-be free agent, wouldn’t even discuss the future after the World Series because he wants to stay in the present as the Yankees try to cement their spot in the postseason.
It’s been a tough few weeks for New York heading into the All-Star Game, but they’ve reeled off four straight wins to build momentum heading into the restart.
They also played without their three-time leading hitter Aaron Judge, who was sidelined with a rib injury. Although his recovery took longer than expected (Judge was not cleared to play baseball), the Yankees captain remains in good spirits, helping his team wherever he can.
Josh Hart of the New York Knicks and Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the New York Yankees chat before a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium in New York. (New York Yankees/Getty Images)
“For us he is still an important voice at the club. He comes to a lot of away games where he doesn’t have to,” Chisholm explained. “He could stay home and rest and rehab, but he still makes a point of coming in and being with the guys and trying to help lead us. Although he can’t help us on the field, he tries to help us off the field whenever he can. We still rally around him.”
“He’s still the most positive guy at the club every day, so we can’t wait to get him back and turn things around.”
The umpire is critical to the Yankees’ World Series hopes as they look to capture their first trophy since the 2009 season. It feels like a long century for the Yankees and their fans, but Chisholm knows he and his teammates will continue to fight to end this drought.
He wants to be in the parade like he was with the Knicks.
“Sometimes you dream about it,” Chisholm admitted. “You’re sitting there, you need to sleep, and you wake up thinking, ‘Damn, this is what I want.’ I dreamed about how we would party at the parade after we won the World Series and New York would go crazy like the Knicks did for us. That’s all we’re looking for.”
Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the New York Yankees celebrates his two-run home run against the Detroit Tigers during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Detroit on June 23, 2026. (Paul Sancia/Associated Press)
LA PLAYA MENTALITY COMES TO LIFE
The All-Star break marks the peak of summer, which Corona used to help fans enjoy the moment with six Corona Beach Connect Series jerseys designed collaboratively by six MLB All-Stars, including Chisholm.
Along with Chisholm, Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Atlanta Braves, Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs, Jeremy Pena of the Houston Astros and Christopher Sanchez of the Philadelphia Phillies each added their talent to the beach-memory-inspired jersey.
Corona’s Beach Connect Series brings together six MLB stars, including Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the New York Yankees, to help fans enjoy summer days when baseball and beach life come together. (Crown)
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For Chisholm, the first ever Bahamian MLB star showed off his fashion looks with the vibrant colors, textures and sounds of the island he calls home. Turquoise water, pink sand, musicians in front paying tribute to his love of music off the field, and a shell patch that is a meaningful nod to his roots.
“I just feel like it inspired me in how I grew up, where I come from, what kind of person I am. I feel like Corona and I have a lot in common, especially with the beach mentality,” Chisholm said. “I feel like the beach mentality is my normal mindset, you know what I mean? It’s all about relaxation, music, seafood. It’s playing in the sand with your family. Just enjoy the day, relax and unwind. That’s how I feel like we came up with this concept.”
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Scott Thompson is a sports columnist for Fox News Digital.