Knicks owner James Dolan had an altercation with another fan today, according to Joseph Staszewski of The New York Post. Late in this afternoon’s loss to the Kings, a fan yelled “Sell the team!” to Dolan as he left his courtside seat. In a TMZ video, Dolan stops, calls the fan rude and allegedly threatens to ban him from Madison Square Garden. When the fan says he was just giving an opinion, Dolan responds, “No, it’s not an opinion, and you know what, enjoy watching them on TV.”
Dolan summoned security to handle the fan, who was questioned and instructed to leave. However, it’s not clear if he has been banned. The Garden released a statement explaining the incident that reads, “Our policy is and will continue to be that if you are disrespectful to anyone in our venues, we will ask you not to return.”
There’s more news out of New York:
- An uncertain future has contributed to the Knicks posting the league’s worst record at 13-53, writes Peter Botte of The New York Post. Dennis Smith Jr., Frank Ntilikina and rookies Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson are the only players on the roster under contract beyond this season, and David Fizdale says the instability has made coaching difficult. “When you’re dealing with guys fighting for their contractual life, you’re always going to have an element of where a guy can be more focused on trying to get his,” Fizdale said. “Not that we’ve had a lot of that, but it’s just a natural thing that when you’re fighting for your life, you got nine guys out there [unsigned], to get all of those guys to say, ‘Hey, team first, every play, every time,’ is part of the trust building you have to have.”
- Rookie guard Allonzo Trier is among those who are playing for a contract next year, although his recent performance should make it an easier choice for the Knicks to pick up his $3.55MM team option, Botte adds in a separate story. Heading into today, Trier was averaging 19.4 PPG over his past five games.
- Knicks fans are counting on a high lottery pick as a consolation prize for the season, but Steve Popper of Newsday notes that the organization hasn’t gotten much out of its recent lottery selections. The most successful one has been Kristaps Porzingis, who was traded to the Mavericks, while the past two lottery picks, Ntilikina and Knox, have struggled to establish themselves as reliable players.
dolan < turtle
Hm I bet he is pals with the Prez
Being a crappy coach is what has made coaching this team difficult Fiz, not instability.
Next year is my make or break year with the Knicks. 35 years a fan, and willing to give that all up if Dolan, Mills, et. al screw this thing up. Almost left after they dealt for Anthony, giving up quality young pieces and picks when they had the cap space to sign him in the offseason, and the knowledge that he wanted to sign in NY.
I really hope Knicks don’t get a top 3 pick in the draft, for their own good, as all the clowns in the FO will have to be accountable for relying on a lottery & top FA that will never, ever come to NYC to play for them, it was sooo much easier to keep KP6 happier than all these unattainable dreams they have.
So you think the solution is …not to get a good pick?
I’m betting the Knicks end up with the #1 pick…It is going to happen 100%. Zion to the Knicks is too good for the NBA to pass up. It wouldn’t be the first time the “lottery” was fixed, LeBron, D.Rose, Patrick Ewing, among a couple others. And it certainly won’t be the last..
Also, as far as Dolan is concerned, I’m awfully curious what he would do if Knicks’ fans collectively chanted for him to sell the team during their next home game. I would absolutely LOVE TO SEE THAT!! I am begging you Knicks’ fans, and the proud and loud people of New York, PLEASE make it happen!! lol..I mean, he surely wouldn’t have the entire crowd escorted out and banned right!?! hahaha…Dolan is such a joke..
NYK? They’ve been in the lottery the last 3 years, 4 now, getting 4th as the highest pick. If there was draft manipulation from the inside, they’re doing a lousy job of fixing.
I should have stopped watching when Patrick left.