Dolan shakes up the NBA: the owner of the Knicks revealed the controversial rule he imposed before becoming a champion
From abstinence to the ring: Dolan's unexpected request that preceded the Knicks' title
The owner of the New York Knicks, James Dolan, gave an emotional motivational talk to the team weeks before the NBA playoffs began, urging the players to seize an opportunity that, according to him, could change their lives forever.
The speech, which was shared this Monday through the podcast Roommates Show hosted by Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, took place on April 3, with five games remaining in the regular season. At that time, the Knicks were gearing up for a season that would end remarkably.
Following that meeting, New York won four of their last five regular-season games and went on to deliver an outstanding performance in the playoffs, achieving a record of 16 wins and only 3 losses. The franchise set a record with 13 consecutive postseason wins and defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games to secure their first NBA championship since 1973.
“This team can win it all,” Dolan declared, holding notes for his speech. “I don't know if you understand what winning the championship this year would mean for you. It would change your life.”
The owner emphasized that a title would have a lasting impact on every member of the organization.
During his address, Dolan also mentioned the departure of coach Tom Thibodeau and the arrival of Mike Brown, who was present during the talk.
The franchise owner acknowledged Thibodeau's work but supported the decision made with the team president, Leon Rose. They believed that the team had enough talent to vie for the championship but required a more collective approach.
“We thought they needed a coach to unite them, to make them play as a team,” Dolan stated. “While it hasn't been perfect, we think that a combined effort would give them a better chance to win a championship than relying on the opinion of one person.”
Dolan highlighted that the journey to the title would only entail about ten weeks of intense effort but the rewards would be enduring.
“When people introduce you, even if one of you becomes President of the United States, they will start by saying: ‘NBA Champion in 2026.’ I guarantee it,” he remarked.
To maximize the chances of success, Dolan urged the players to make sacrifices during the postseason. Among other recommendations, he suggested reducing media exposure, paying more attention to their diet, getting better rest, and even abstaining from sexual relations.
“I had an idea: maybe you should give up sex for the next ten weeks,” he said with a chuckle. “The Spartans denied themselves certain things to gain an advantage. Gain that advantage.”
Dolan even joked that the players should explain the sacrifice to their partners but advised against revealing the source of the suggestion.
Lastly, the owner stressed the importance of following Mike Brown's instructions without questioning during the pursuit of the championship.
“Your coach has the answers on what we need to do to win,” he asserted. “You must accept his guidance, dedicate yourselves to correcting what he has pointed out, and leave nothing on the table.”
His message concluded with a call for complete dedication:
“You have to go for it.”
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Dolan sacude a la NBA: el dueño de los Knicks reveló la polémica regla que impuso antes de ser campeón
