New York’s championship parade on Thursday was a blur of confetti, champagne, and at least one guy who decided a shirt was just not part of the dress code. Knicks forward Jeremy Sochan marched through the streets of Manhattan shirtless, vibing like someone who just realized he was on the winning side of a very weird NBA season.
It immediately looked familiar. Fans online were quick to compare the scene to JR Smith during Cleveland’s 2016 celebration, and honestly, the comparison fits. Smith famously went shirtless during that Cavs parade too, and Sochan basically matched the energy.
Here’s the wild part: Sochan actually started the season with the Spurs. He was released by San Antonio, picked up by New York, and ended up with a front-row seat to both NBA Finals teams. Sochan played sparingly in the series, mostly getting minutes when Karl-Anthony Towns was in foul trouble. But still. The man essentially had a championship ring coming either way.
How the Knicks Got Here
This title run was fifty-three years in the making. The Knicks hadn’t won it all since 1973, and they didn’t exactly cruise to the trophy. They fell behind 2-1 in the first round against the Hawks before flipping a switch and going 15-1 the rest of the way.
The adjustment? Running the offense through Karl-Anthony Towns as a playmaking hub on the perimeter. And it helped that OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges turned into automatic shooters for about a month straight. Jalen Brunson shook off a slow start to the Finals and finished with a 45-point performance in Game 5 in San Antonio to clinch Finals MVP.
What Comes Next
The Knicks are expected to bring back basically the same core next season. No major roster shakeups are anticipated. The goal is straightforward: become the first repeat champion since the 2018 Warriors. For now though, they’re just enjoying the parade. And Sochan will probably keep his shirt off for as long as the celebration lasts.
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