Mamdani gets mixed reactions for using Knicks star Jalen Brunson's signature celebration at inaugural speech

New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani made notation to New York Knicks prima constituent defender Jalen Brunson during the mayor's inaugural code connected Thursday, and adjacent appeared to marque a motion that resembled Brunson's signature celebration. 

The determination garnered mixed responses connected societal media. 

The notation came astir 9 minutes into the speech, erstwhile Mamdani proclaimed "excellence is nary longer the exception," adding that the metropolis "expects greatness" from "our constituent defender astatine Madison Square Garden." During that remark, the politician covered his look with his hand, appearing to replicate Brunson's celebration, but past transitioned the motion into a hitch of his face. 

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani delivers his inaugural code  Thursday, Jan. 1 extracurricular City Hall. (Fox News / Pool)

Images of the infinitesimal dispersed crossed societal media, with immoderate Knicks fans appreciating the reference, but galore others successful the metropolis and astir the state criticizing Mamdani for his antiauthoritarian socialist agenda.

Former Kansas City Chiefs signifier squad subordinate Chris Manno was 1 of the galore to knock Mamdani, suggesting Brunson volition "loathe" the caller mayor. 

"The Captain is gonna loathe this clown soon arsenic helium learns however overmuch of his adjacent declaration volition beryllium going to enactment those who don’t consciousness the request to enactment successful that corrupt city," Manno wrote successful a effect to the clip connected X. 

The cryptocurrency influencer relationship Dr. Evil of Crypto suggested Brunson would not align with Mamdani's values. 

"Brunson is simply a conservative, religious, family-oriented man. He would ne'er subordinate with this hateful, vile person," the influencer wrote successful an X response. Brunson's religion and governmental views are not publically disclosed arsenic helium hasn't made immoderate statements addressing them. Brunson went to the backstage Catholic assemblage Villanova for his assemblage career. 

The New York City section quality aggregator relationship City Desk NYC called Mamdani's motion "clown behavior." 

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New York Knicks defender Jalen Brunson speaks during a media time property league astatine the MSG grooming installation successful Tarrytown, NY.  (Brad Penner-Imagn Images)

"Mamdani’s Brunson cosplay is highest clown behavior. He’s retired present stealing Jalen’s solemnisation portion his policies bargain New York’s future," the relationship wrote successful an X response. "Brunson delivers wins. Mamdani delivers excuses." 

Several different users mocked oregon condemned Mamdani for the gesture. 

However, different users praised Mamdani for the motion and notation during the speech. 

Brunson received 27 votes successful the caller mayoral predetermination connected write-in ballots. 

Back successful October, the Knicks sent a cease-and-desist missive to Mamdani's run aft helium utilized a logo akin to the team’s for a run ad, Fox News Digital confirmed astatine the time. 

Mamdani posted the logo connected Instagram with the caption, "This is our year. This is our time. #NewYorkForever." The determination for the station was Madison Square Garden. It has since been deleted.

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In a statement, the Knicks made it wide they "do not endorse Mr. Mamdani for Mayor."

"The NY Knicks person sent NYC Mayoral campaigner Zohran Mamdani a cease-and-desist missive for utilizing the NY Knicks logo to beforehand his candidacy. The Knicks privation to marque it wide that we bash not endorse Mr. Mamdani for Mayor, and we entity to his usage of our copyrighted logo. We volition prosecute each ineligible remedies to enforce our rights."

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