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One of the first stops on the NBA champion New York Knicks’ celebration tour will be The Tonight Show, where they’ll reunite with the Wu-Tang Clan.
On Monday, the Knicks’ star starting five — Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, OG Annoy, and Mikal Bridges — will join host Jimmy Fallon to celebrate the team’s first title in 53 years. Coach Mike Brown and the rest of the team will also be on hand, as will other special guests.
As for the Wu-Tang Clan performance, it’s a clever nod to the Knicks’ massive game four win over the San Antonio Spurs: The NYC rap legends performed at halftime during that game, when the Knicks were down a seemingly insurmountable 29 points, and the Spurs looked poised to even the series at two games apiece. Still, at the end of the halftime performance, Method Man declared, “Knicks in five.” The team then proceeded to come back and win game four 107 – 106 before polishing off the Spurs in game five on Saturday.
The Knicks’ victory has unleashed a massive wave of euphoria in New York City. Among the team’s myriad famous fans, there have been big celebrations from the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Mariska Hargitay, Cardi B, Jon Stewart, Ben Stiller, and Timothée Chalamet (who even got to join in the locker room celebrations in San Antonio after game five).
During the Finals run, Fat Joe spoke with Rolling Stone about his new song “Victory Lap (Him),” his longtime Knicks fandom, and being incorporated into the fabric of the team even as a fan. “My team, I’ve supported my whole life, is now in the championship, and they’re including me, which is weird as a fan. The other night, the coach [Mike Brown] said, ‘Fat Joe’s jewelry is blinding me.’ Like, come on, man! As a kid, as a Knicks fan, you think I ever dreamed that the coach would mention me?”