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Where are those NYC street signs celebrating Knicks' run?

City spokesperson tells cllct the street signs are now property of the Knicks

Cover Image for Where are those NYC street signs celebrating Knicks' run?
The streets of Manhattan celebrated the Knicks' run to their first Eastern Conference finals in 25 years. (Credit: DOT/Knicks)

Long before a historic collapse and Tyrese Haliburton's choke sign, the New York Knicks were the toast of the town this spring.

Everywhere fans went in New York, Knicks fever was at record highs — and that spread to the street signs throughout Manhattan, which were renamed by the city in honor of Knicks players May 21 as the Eastern Conference finals opened at Madison Square Garden.

For 10 days, fans could find co-named street signs at intersections throughout the city, such as Jalen Brunson Boulevard at the corner of 7th Avenue and West 11th Street or Karl-Anthony Towns Square at 7th Avenue and West 32nd Street.

"The Knicks embody the spirit of New York -- resilient, passionate and unstoppable," New York Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement at the time. "On the path to a championship, we recognize the hard work and determination that has gotten this team to the Eastern Conference Finals, and we're celebrating this team by temporarily co-naming our city streets so all New Yorkers can celebrate their Knicks pride."

When the Knicks' bandwagon stalled out of the playoffs with a six-game loss to Indiana, the blue-and-orange signs were quietly removed by the city.

And that got cllct to thinking: Where are those signs now?

Although New York fell short of its first NBA Finals in 25 years, the signs would be a perfect collectible for Knicks fans. Who wouldn't want to say they owned Mikal Bridges Block?

When superstitious fans worried the signs would jinx the team, many pointed out the signs were put up by the city.

However, a spokesperson for the New York City Department of Transportation confirmed to cllct Friday the signs were indeed the property of the Knicks.

"The New York Knicks paid for the production and hanging of the signs, so they were removed and given to the team," Nick Benson, chief communications officer and deputy commissioner for the DOT, told cllct in an email.

Benson added that any decision on the future plans for the signs would be made by the Knicks.

The team has not responded to a request for comment by cllct, asking whether it plans to keep the signs or potentially auction them off.

Kevin Jackson is the chief content officer, and Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct.