The Knicks‘ leaders at the management and ownership levels rarely speak to the media about the team, but owner James Dolan made an exception this week for a pair of podcast hosts within his organization, appearing on the Roommates Show, hosted by Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart (YouTube link).
As Stefan Bondy of The New York Post relays, Dolan expressed a willingness to be patient with the current Knicks core, making it clear that he believes continuity will be an important factor in maximizing the upside of the roster.
“We have a team that’s going to be together for a while,” Dolan said. “(President of basketball operations) Leon (Rose) has done a good job of lining up the contracts and everything else. So this isn’t our only season. We’re going to play a bunch of seasons together.
“You take a look at teams like Boston that have played together, they get to draw off of something that they built over that period of time. And for this team, that’s the challenge, really – today, going into the playoffs, etc. – is to build that inside of the team. Something we can draw on.”
The Knicks made significant changes to their roster during the 2024 offseason, sending a package heavy on future first-round picks to Brooklyn in exchange for Mikal Bridges, then completing a blockbuster deal in the fall to acquire Karl-Anthony Towns in exchange for a package headlined by Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.
Entering the summer of 2025, Towns, Brunson, Hart, and OG Anunoby are all locked up for multiple seasons, and there’s hope that Bridges will sign an extension that pushes his current contract beyond its 2026 expiration date. Sizable contracts for those players will likely leave the organization operating in apron territory for the next few years, reducing New York’s ability to continue making significant major in free agency or on the trade market.
After advancing to the second round of the playoffs in each of the past two years, it will be a challenge for the Knicks to get any further than that this spring, given that it would likely mean upsetting the defending champion Celtics. However, Dolan expressed optimism about the group’s future, lauding Rose for the way he has put the roster together and indicating that the front office has his full support, along with full autonomy to continue making personnel decisions.
As Bondy notes, Dolan also admitted that the patient, hands-off approach he’s taking now hasn’t always been the management style he’s employed in the past.
“There were times when (we’ve) sort of reached for that shiny, sparkly object. ‘Maybe this is what we need.’ Especially when things weren’t going well,” he said. “‘Let’s bring in this guy and maybe he’ll turn it all around for us.’ Sometimes it’s players, sometimes it’s a coach.
“What I learned over time is that doesn’t work. It really doesn’t. You really have to do the fundamentals, the basics. You’ve got to build a team, you’ve got to build an organization. There is no waving a wand over a team and all of a sudden make it a great team. It doesn’t happen.”
Translation: “We’re already spending more than 95% of the league, I’m not spending any more.”
He has never had an issue with spending. He’s many things, being cheap isn’t one of them. Rose is being mindful of team flexibility, the bench, and Bridges upcoming extension.
Tell him ….. Sphere money lol.
aristotle — For Dolan this is the first time. Since he took over team from Daddy. That he’s had a good Team GM n coach. And he has let them run the team. He hasn’t butted in not once. For Knick fans. That’s remarkable.
Internet lol …..
I’m all for owners spending money. But the CBA repeater tax is a mother. No team can avoid it. The Knicks payroll, like GSW’s until last season, and Boston next season, only gives Dolan 1 more year of overspend, 2 max.
The same players that cost $75M tax in the first year can bring $170M tax in the second, and $300M in the third. Knicks, like the Warriors and Clips before them, and Boston this coming summer, will have to cut back, not spend more
Again bro …. Go look up his worth. Money will never be an issue. The cap yes. He will pay the tax if he believes in team. Like Warriors did for years. Knicks core is under 30. So gives him easily a 5 yr run tax or no tax. Spending money is not an issue. Maneuvering the cap could be. No one cares. We will deal with that the day it comes. Haven’t you been told many times. This is first yr for this core. Knicks are just in first year of being considered a good team. We got plenty of time lol.
lmaooo, aristotle. Again, you have no clue about the Knicks. Dolan has had his ups and major downs as an owner but one thing that has always been true is that he is more than willing to spend on the team. He’s kept sky-high payrolls his entire tenure as owner even when they had awful teams. If you are going to talk about the Knicks I beg you to please educate yourself just a little bit.
Rct, you misunderstand me. I’m not saying Dolan hasn’t spent as much as he can. I’m saying that the Knicks are deep in the luxury tax right now, and, like all teams at that level, they face a large and increasing repeater tax over coming years.
My original post was not to criticize Dolan. All owners in his position are educating fans that they aren’t free to spend as much as they’d like.
Rct, the Knicks have obligations of $196M to 9 players next season. Conservatively, that projects to at least $220M next season. That’s a massive luxury tax — not a criticism, just a reality.
link to basketball-reference.com
Exhibit number one for the aristotle does not know what he is saying files.
First time he has let basketball people run team. Without meddling in. Usually after three yrs. The media and critics are all up in arms. Hard to rebuild in NYC. Hasn’t been done since Ewing.
I’ve been saying this since the day I got here. Nobody believes me. Its why this regime and team is important. And important to see them thru. Never knew Rose. He and Thibs have totally rebuilt and redone whole franchise in 4yrs n counting. Very impressive.
I’m all for owners spending money. But the CBA repeater tax is a mother. The Knicks payroll, like GSW’s until last season, and Boston next season, only gives Dolan 1 more year of overspend, 2 max.
The same players that cost $75M tax in the first year can bring $170M tax in the second, and $300M in the third. Knicks, like the Warriors and Clips before them, and Boston this coming summer, will have to cut back, not spend more.
Dolan isn’t saying anything new, other he’s signed on to the plan (which most would have assumed). Rose & Co. indicated this all summer. It’s a 4 year undertaking designed to track Brunson’s prime. The impetus was Brunson’s extension. The only guys they were looking to add this summer were Brunson’s contemporaries who were either contracturally controlled or a short distance from it for a 4 year period. Not at all ambiguous. Honestly, even if they said nothing, it’s obvious.
Dolan hasn’t had a coach, players, GM on same page. Since the Riley days. And he was a kid then just tagging along with his dad.
i guess time will tell
DXC, thanks, that’s exactly my point. The Knicks are executing an aggressive, specific plan that was set last year, and they won’t stray from it.
The challenge that wealthy NBA owners face is that many fans don’t understand why CBA the repeater tax prevents them from spending more.