There are phone calls from your kid’s teacher that you dread. And then there are phone calls like this one. One New York father took to the Internet after his young son made a classroom executive decision during the 2026 NBA Finals run. He stood up, began a “Knicks in 4” chant, and a “Let’s Go Knicks” for good measure. The teacher called. The father didn’t know whether to ground him or frame the story.
“My son’s teacher just called and said I might have to pick him up from school today because he started a loud ‘KNICKS IN 4!’ chant followed by a ‘LETS GO KNICKS!’ chant during class,” the father wrote. “I’m not sure if I should discipline him or be proud that he’s showing leadership qualities.”
The video accompanying the post, in all honesty, did give us a good indication of what the father decided to do.
As you can see, a classroom of young children (many of whom were sporting Jalen Brunson #11 Knicks jerseys) is having a field day – the kind of unbothered chaos that only eight-year-olds and playoff fever can produce together.
It’s the perfect time to drop this. The Knicks are in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, where they are battling San Antonio – the team that took them out in five games 27 years ago. It has been a long time coming in New York. So, apparently, it has finally trickled down to the third period in New York City Public Schools.
NBA Finals Fever Reaches the Classroom
The New York Knicks classroom chant post sparked debate online – though “debate” is generous, because almost everyone agreed the boy should be celebrated, not punished.
The consensus formed quickly. “He clearly has his priorities right,” one person wrote. Another went further: “He’s no longer a student. He is a physical representation of the NEW YORK KNICKS POSITIVE ENERGY!!! Keep firing on all cylinders kid!!” a user commented. One comment addressed the father directly, with escalating stakes: “Gonna call CPS if you discipline that young goat,” one person wrote.
Others pushed back on the school’s reaction entirely. “That’s a natural born leader right there and the school should’ve called you only to let you know… not pick him up!” a user wrote. While one commenter went ahead and crowned the outcome: “This young boy gets his fellow classmates to root the home team on! And of course it’s the winning champion Knicks! How beautiful is this!!” one comment read.
The “Knicks in 4” chant has been the rallying cry across New York, from Madison Square Garden to its subway trains, and, of course, to at least one third-grade classroom.
The verdict: His dad probably didn’t pick him up or send him back to his seat. He was allowed to stay, and the Internet agreed.
