A five-year-old New York Knicks fan became one of the stars of the city’s championship celebrations after winning a Jalen Brunson lookalike contest and receiving an unexpected call from the man himself.
With New York still basking in the glow of their first NBA championship in 53 years, dozens of supporters gathered at Washington Square Park on Wednesday to take part in a Brunson-themed lookalike competition.
The event produced plenty of memorable moments, but none bigger than the one that awaited the eventual winner.
A young Knicks fan stole the show in Washington Square Park
Fans of all ages turned out hoping to be crowned New York’s best Brunson doppelganger and claim the $5,000 prize on offer.
When the votes were counted, the crowd chose five-year-old Francisco as the winner after he arrived wearing Brunson’s No. 11 Knicks jersey.
The youngster beat dozens of fellow contestants to take home the prize and quickly became a fan favourite among those gathered for the event.
The contest was held less than 24 hours before New York’s championship parade, with excitement around Brunson and the Knicks still sweeping across the city following their NBA Finals victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
The best moment came after the winner had already been crowned
Winning the competition and collecting $5,000 would have been memorable enough for Francisco, but organisers had one more surprise waiting for him.
Shortly after being named the winner, the young Knicks fan received a FaceTime call from Brunson himself.
The Finals MVP greeted him with a simple “sup’ man,” but Francisco appeared completely stunned by the moment and could not find a response.
That only added to the scene as fans surrounding the youngster erupted into cheers and chants of “Jalen Brunson!” while the call continued.
After delivering the Knicks’ first championship since 1973 and producing a 45-point performance in the title-clinching Game 5, Brunson has created countless memories for New York fans. For one five-year-old supporter, however, this may have been the most unforgettable moment of all.
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