NBA Finals Reminds World That Real Celebrities Are Much More Exciting Than Vapid Influencers And Podcasters

CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT

Despite already very crowded sporting news cycle, the entire planet is smiling for the people of New York this week.

Even with a UFC fight card on the White House lawn and the opening matches of the FIFA World Cup dotted across the Americas, it has been impossible to avoid the fanfare on the streets of the Big Apple.

This comes after the New York Knickerbockers win their first NBA title since 1973 against the San Antonio Spurs with a 94-90 score in game 5.

After a decade of heightened political polarisation and racial tensions across the USA, it seems that every borough and town in the Empire State is finally united.

Right across the city, Gen-Z and younger millennials are getting a taste of the 1990s, where social media echo chambers are shattered by a inter-generational and cross-cultural moment in history that has the attention of everyone at the same time.

It's a community spirit that used to be a common occurrence for older generations, when everyone watched the same TV channels and listened to the same radio stations.

In fact, not since the death of Osama Bin Laden has every single New Yorker been on the same page, and celebrating the same thing.

As the city remains awash with orange and blue colours, young people are now realising that it's actually fun to do what everyone else is doing, with millions of excited people cheering and dancing at rowdy public screenings of Game 5 in bars, parks and street parties.

And this sudden rejection of the fragmented and divisive social media landscape has only been cemented by the return of REAL celebrities.

Over the last two months, even the most unavoidable social media identities have been drowned out by the exciting courtside photographs of people who are famous for a reason, and actually want to be there.

From the titans of stand up comedy, to chart-topping musicians and blockbuster film stars and directors, the New York Knicks have opted to give the best seats in the house to real fan with genuine talent - rather than the brainrot influencers and podcast bros who have recently been confused for culturally important figures.

With the Knicks not needing to 'boost their awareness' with vapid grifters who game social media algorithms with low-effort dopamine triggers, audiences are relishing in the opportunity to share this historic moment with people they actually admire.

The same can not be said for what is currently taking place on the White House lawn.