Appearing on Friday afternoon on WFAN Sports Radio in New York, Knicks owner James Dolan said he doesn’t intend to surrender control of the franchise anytime in the near – or distant – future, as Fred Katz of The Athletic tweets.
“I have no plans whatsoever to sell at this point,” Dolan said. “I’m not retiring anytime soon. It’s a family-controlled asset, so someone in the family will eventually own it.”
There have been no recent reports indicating that Dolan was considering the possibility of selling the team and he has said in the past that he has no intention of doing so.
Still, with NBA franchise valuations soaring, there has been some recent speculation that more owners could be looking to cash out. There has also been a segment of the Knicks fanbase hoping for years that Dolan would take that route — it sounds like they shouldn’t get their hopes up.
Asked later in his WFAN appearance whether he likes the job president of basketball operations Leon Rose has done with the team since being hired nearly three years ago, Dolan gave Rose a positive review.
“Yes. Absolutely. … The team with the best talent wins,” Dolan said (Twitter link via Katz). “So then you want a guy who can get you the best talent and I believe Leon Rose is still the best guy.”
As Tim Bontemps of ESPN relays (via Twitter), Dolan went on to say that the Knicks don’t have a specific timeline for contention that they’re holding Rose to, and are simply looking for “progress” at this point. He did add, however, that “we absolutely expect” to make the playoffs this season.
That’s too bad
Yes, definitely like the saddest news ever.
Dolan has been the worst NBA owner not named Donald Sterling (or Glenn Taylor) since he took over. And those two are a veeeeeery low bar to clear. That said, the Knicks have been quite good this year, and they look like they’ve finally taken a real step rather than just trying to mash stars together like they did during the 2000’s.
Tillman Fertitta: Hold my beer. I’ve got plans to ruin an entire city.
Sorry Knicks Fan.
James Dolan not going to sell the team. It’s way too much money to give up on. It will be 50 years since the New York Knicks have won a NBA Championship. It’s sad because they should be a much better franchise than that. I don’t see the New York Knicks winning another title while he’s the owner.
Damn. So the Knicks will be trash forever. Smh
Nothing to worry about. Truth is, Dolan hasn’t been actively involved with basketball operations since Jackson took over. The current ownership structure of the MSG makes that unlikely to change, at least as long as Leon Rose is there.
NY sportswriters work hard to keep Dolan alive in the minds of NYK fans because he sells, and also to conflate the media’s real separate issues with Dolan with the NYK issues that fans have with him. Other than hiring and/or firing the top executive (Jackson, Mills and now Rose), Dolan hasn’t effected the Knicks on the court in almost a decade. I’d love him to sell, but it’s no longer anything close to the issue it was.
Exactly. He’s also not afraid to spend.
His problem is the way he treats people in the stands. Including celebrities and former Knicks too.
Julius Randle scored 36 points (tied his career-high with eight made three-pointers) to go with 13 rebounds in New York’s narrow 105-103 win over Cleveland. It was Randle’s 30th double-double, which leads all Eastern Conference players.
Then put up 37 pts and 9 reb against the Celtics in a (120-117) win.
For the year Randle …..
Randle averaging 24.8 points, 10.9 rebounds and 4.0 assists . I’m not a Randle guy. But he is having a great season.
Pretty obvious that the Knicks should of traded for Donovan Mitchell when they had the chance. Jalen Brunson isn’t even close to Mitchell. The first rounds that would have been given up shouldn’t really matter to Knicks fans in general. I mean in the past 15 years, the only guys they drafted in the first round thats been any good is Porzingis and Barrett, both in the top 4
They didn’t have to choose, they could’ve had both. Brunson isn’t as good as Mitchell but he’s been playing well, definitely worth his contract.
We got Jalen as a FA, just money. We still have all our picks. So we can still make a major move. I’m glad Knicks are waiting to make a move. But I do see a trade coming next month. Just don’t know if it will be major.
Hell yeah they should have. I was probably the only person arguing that they 100% should. No one on here agreed with me. None of my friends really did either.
One dude on this site said sexton was just as good as Mitchell lol. People were saying it’s too much to give up the picks and the role players. Smh. Knicks had a superstar who actually wanted to come home to NY, they had the assets and opportunity, and they screwed it up. Some fools said Mitchell wouldn’t make the Knicks more than a 8th at best. Yeah right
Yeah I know. When you have a chance to trade for a superstar thats young and controllable + he actually wants to play for your team, you do it 99/100 times unless the guy is a total headcase. Mitchell is a model citizen, great attitude, and comes to play every game. Not to mention that hes lead his team to a top 2 seed before in the West
Oh well… The Knicks will never be good with him meddling from afar…
Damn it.
Dolan is the reason for Knicks troubles. Since the Ewing days. He’s never cared about winning. It’s big business for him.
His father gave him MSG, Knicks, Rangers. Gotta admit he’s built it up. Guys loaded man.
link to google.com
But the time is running out for Mr. Dolan.
Care to explain?
Yeah it make me sick.
It always upset me when a actual fan doesn’t own his franchise. When this happens it’s always about the $, and winning obviously takes a backseat. Yes Dolan is definitely one of the worst owners ever.
As if Dolan’s public image hasn’t sunk deep enough in the toilet, he pursues a pathetically petty vendetta against lawyers suing MSG, using facial recognition software to ban them from his properties.
“Dolan is banning lawyers whose firms are suing MSG — Dolan’s company whose properties include the Knicks and Rangers — from any affiliated premises.
“One such firm told NorthJersey.com that, as retribution, it will challenge MSG’s liquor license. An associate at the firm had been barred entry to Dolan’s Radio City Music Hall as she attempted entry as a Girl Scouts chaperone. So, so petty.”
– Chris Branch, The Athletic
Dolan’s declaration of intent to hold onto the franchise reminds me of another petty owner, Fred Wilpon, who trolled Mets fans with the same taunt. Hopefully, Knicks fans will be rescued by a buyer in the mold of Steve Cohen who’ll buy the franchise from this child.
I love DMs game. I was good with him coming here. But not at that price. They asked more from Knicks.
Imo he’s in a great place. Cavs have a big time future. This team can be together for a long run. I truly believe that. They will be even better next yr. And the yr after that.
I’d like to get DeRozan now. Let him retire as a Knick. We get him cheaper than DM. And helps get us to next level. Make the playoffs fun again in NY.