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New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani referenced New York Knicks star point guard Jalen Brunson during the mayor’s inaugural address Thursday, and even appeared to make a gesture that resembled celebrating Brunson’s signing.
The decision sparked mixed reactions on social media.
The reference came about nine minutes into the speech, when Mamdani proclaimed that “excellence is no longer the exception,” adding that the city “expects greatness” from “our leader at Madison Square Garden.” During this remark, the mayor covered his face with his hand, appearing to replicate Brunson’s celebration, but then changed the gesture to wiping his face.
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani delivers his inaugural address Thursday, January 1, in front of City Hall. (PK Press Club / Pool)
Footage of the moment spread across social media, with some Knicks fans liking the reference, but many others in the city and across the country criticizing Mamdani for his democratic socialist agenda.
Former Kansas City Chiefs preseason player Chris Manno was one of many to criticize Mamdani, suggesting Brunson would “hate” the new mayor.
“The captain is going to hate this clown as soon as he finds out how much of his next contract will go to supporting those who don’t feel the need to work in this corrupt city,” Manno wrote in response to the clip on X.
Cryptocurrency influencer account Dr. Evil of Crypto suggested that Brunson would not align with Mamdani’s values.
“Brunson is a conservative, religious and family oriented man. He would never associate with this hateful and vile person,” the influencer wrote in an X response. Brunson’s religion and political views are not publicly disclosed as he has not made any statements about them. Brunson went to the private Catholic University Villanova for his college career.
New York City’s local news aggregator account, City Desk NYC, called Mamdani’s action “clown behavior.”
Hours after taking office, New York City Mayor Mamdani targets landlords and vows to intervene in private bankruptcy case.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson speaks during a press conference during media day at the MSG Training Center in Tarrytown, New York. (Brad Penner-Imagn Images)
“Brunson’s cosplay of Mamdani is high-level clown behavior. He’s out here stealing Jalen’s celebration while his policies are stealing New York’s future,” the account wrote in an X reply. “Brunson is winning. Mamdani is offering an apology.”
Several other users mocked or condemned Mamdani for the gesture.
However, other users praised Mamdani for the gesture and the reference during the speech.
Brunson received 27 votes in the recent mayoral election on write-in ballots.
In October, the Knicks sent a cease and desist letter to Mamdani’s campaign after he used a logo similar to the team’s for a campaign ad, PK Press Club Digital confirmed at the time.
Mamdani posted the logo on Instagram with the caption: “This is our year. This is our moment. #NewYorkForever.” The location of the message was Madison Square Garden. It has since been deleted.
In a statement, the Knicks made it clear that they “do not endorse Mr. Mamdani for mayor.”
“The New York Knicks have sent New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani a cease and desist letter for using the New York Knicks logo to promote his candidacy. The Knicks want to make it clear that we do not support Mr. Mamdani for mayor and we object to his use of our copyrighted logo. We will pursue all legal avenues to enforce our rights.”
