Dolan: Knicks ready for the NBA Finals, no changes in the squad

In a rare radio interview, New York Knicks owner James Dolan shared his expectations for the team’s future. His statements, broadcast on the New York station WFAN, covered various topics, including the dismissal of Tom Thibodeau and the upcoming trade deadline.

Dolan’s Expectations

Dolan expressed his confidence that the Knicks will reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. The owner also addressed Tom Thibodeau’s departure, acknowledging his contribution to the Knicks’ resurgence, but defending the need for a change to move forward.

“We want to get to the Finals and we should win the Finals,” Dolan said. “This is sports; anything can happen. Getting to the Finals, absolutely we have to do it. Winning the Finals, we should do it.”

James Dolan

Dolan highlighted that the team was built under the direction of Thibodeau, who led the Knicks to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000. However, the decision was made to evolve beyond traditional training formulas. The focus on developing the bench and managing the playing time of the starters were concerns that Dolan and Knicks president of basketball operations Leon Rose expressed to Thibodeau last season. Mike Brown, the new coach, has taken these indications into account, and the Knicks were in second place in the Eastern Conference before Monday night’s game against the Detroit Pistons. Dolan also backed Thibodeau as a coach for another franchise, recognizing his previous achievements with the Chicago Bulls and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Regarding potential personnel moves, Dolan downplayed the idea of a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks. In addition, the owner does not foresee any major changes before the trade deadline. Dolan emphasized the chemistry and positive energy within the current team, and expressed his satisfaction with the franchise’s progress in recent years. Dolan highlighted the team’s depth, mentioning the return of Josh Hart and Landry Shamet, and expressed his optimism about the team’s physical condition heading into the playoffs.