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Knicks championship celebration marred by jersey number gaffe at City Hall

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 18, 2026, 4:06 PM

Last updated Jun 18, 2026

Knicks championship celebration marred by jersey number gaffe at City Hall

Summary

The New York Knicks championship celebration on June 18, 2026, faced backlash after a planning mistake led to the jersey number 33 being displayed for little-used player Dillon Jones at City Hall. This number is famously retired in honor of legend Patrick Ewing, who was present at the ceremony. Social media erupted as fans voiced their outrage over the apparent disrespect to Knicks history. The error stemmed from outdated information regarding Jones's jersey number from previous exhibition games. Patrick Ewing is expected to participate in the festivities despite the controversy.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Dillon Jones's number 33 misattributed at Knicks celebration.
•Number 33 is retired for Patrick Ewing since 2003.
•Ewing attended the ceremony, which stirred up fan criticism.
•Mistake originated from outdated information on Knicks' website.
•Social media reacted strongly against the gaffe.

Latest Updates

4:06 PMYahoo Sports — NY Knicks Championship Celebration Tainted by ‘Unfathomable’ Gaffe — And It Is Getting Absolutely Roasted

What they're saying

"
Someone involved with the planning of the New York Knicks NBA title celebration threw up an absolute brick — and it is getting eviscerated on social media.
— Yahoo Sports

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