Patrick Ewing was disrespected at the New York Knicks' championship parade on Thursday when his retired jersey number 33 was mistakenly used for reserve player Dillon Jones.
What happened?
The mistake was made by New York City Hall, which adorned itself with the jerseys of the Knicks players who won the 2026 NBA championship.
Dillon Jones' jersey was hung outside City Hall with the No. 33, which is actually Patrick Ewing's retired number.
Why it matters for Patrick Ewing
Ewing's jersey number was retired by the Knicks in 2003, and it's considered a legendary number in the team's history.
The mistake was noticed by many fans, including WFAN's Pete Hoffman, who wrote on his official X account that Dillon Jones will forever be an answer to a trivia question.
What comes next?
The Knicks won their first championship since 1973, and the parade was expected to be attended by up to 10 million fans.
NBA fans were quick to roast NY City Hall over the jersey mistake, with many taking to social media to express their outrage.
Patrick Ewing played most of his 17-year NBA career with the Knicks and is widely considered one of the greatest centers of all time.
He was also on the Knicks the last time they made the NBA Finals when they lost to the San Antonio Spurs in 1999.
Ewing is an 11-time NBA All-Star and was inducted into the Hall of Fame twice, as an individual and as a member of the Team USA Olympic “Dream Team” in 1992.
The mistake was met with criticism from fans and media alike, with many calling it an insult to Patrick Ewing's legacy.
Dillon Jones didn't see the floor in the postseason for the Knicks and only played in 7 regular-season games.
He earned his own place in NBA history by winning consecutive NBA titles, having played for the Oklahoma City Thunder last season.
The Knicks closed out a 4-1 win over the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals on Saturday.
The championship parade was a celebration of the team's historic win, but the jersey mistake took away from the excitement.
Fans took to social media to express their disappointment and frustration with the mistake.
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy wrote on his official X account that the mistake was unfathomable.
KFC Barstool also criticized the mistake, saying it was dumb and an insult to Patrick Ewing.
The incident sparked a heated debate among NBA fans, with many defending Patrick Ewing's legacy.
The Knicks' championship win was a historic moment for the team, but the jersey mistake will be remembered as a disappointing moment in the celebration.
On Thursday, the parade was attended by thousands of fans, all of whom were excited to celebrate the team's win.
But the jersey mistake took away from the excitement, and many fans were left feeling disappointed and frustrated.
The incident will be remembered as a mistake that disrespected Patrick Ewing's legacy and took away from the team's historic win.
The Knicks' championship win was a momentous occasion, and the team will look to build on their success in the upcoming season.
But for now, the focus is on the jersey mistake and how it affected the celebration.
The team will look to move forward from the incident and focus on their future success.
Patrick Ewing's legacy will continue to be celebrated by fans, and the jersey mistake will be remembered as a disappointing moment in the team's history.