• Loading stock data...
Thursday, July 10, 2025

Knicks Owner Resigns From NBA Committees Amid Lawsuit

  • James Dolan resigned from his positions on the NBA Board of Governors’ influential advisory and finance and media committees.
  • It comes in the wake of the Knicks suing the Toronto Raptors for $10 million over allegations of theft of proprietary information.
New York Knicks executive chairman James Dolan watches during the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden.
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

New York Knicks owner James Dolan is stepping away from NBA league-related responsibilities while his team sues another.

In a memo sent to Commissioner Adam Silver and the league’s other 29 owners, Dolan resigned from his position on the NBA Board of Governors’ influential advisory, finance, and media committees. Knicks general counsel Jamaal Lesane has already begun sitting in for Dolan’s responsibilities on those committees’ meetings, per ESPN.

“Given all that has occurred lately, I have come to the conclusion that the NBA neither needs nor wants my opinion,” Dolan wrote in the memo.

It comes in the wake of the Knicks suing the Toronto Raptors for $10 million, alleging that former New York assistant video coordinator Ikechukwu Azotam passed along proprietary information to the Raptors when he joined their staff this season.

Toronto motioned to dismiss the case and asked for Silver to mediate the dispute between the two franchises. However, the Knicks fired back on this request by saying that Silver cannot be impartial due to the commissioner’s close relationship with Raptors governor Larry Tannenbaum, who is also chairman of the NBA board of governors and effectively Silver’s boss.

“My hope is that the Knicks will be treated equally and fairly as all other NBA teams,” Dolan added in the memo. “… As you know, I am very busy with all my duties at MSG family of companies. I need to apply my time where I can be most productive.”

ESPN’s report also notes that Dolan was the only owner to vote against otherwise unanimous decisions to allow the sale of the Charlotte Hornets from Michael Jordan to Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin and WNBA expansion to the Bay Area.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Jalen Williams Signs Max Deal As Thunder Commit $822M to 3 Stars

Oklahoma City also extended Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren.

Suns All In on Booker, Who Signs Record Extension Amidst Chaos

The Suns changed their head coach for the fourth time in four years.

Murphy: Club WC Snags Won’t Derail Biggest Event ‘in Human History’

New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium is the concluding site of both FIFA events.
exclusive

Amazon Adding Dell Curry to NBA Coverage Team

The 16-year NBA veteran has been a Hornets color commentator.

Featured Today

Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.

The Torpedo Bat Business Is Still Going Strong: ‘Here to Stay’

Demand for the oddly shaped bats has stayed strong across the sport.
July 6, 2025

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 4, 2025

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.
Apr 10, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; (L-R) Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis, Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), Ovechkin's wife Nastya, and sons Sergei and Ilya watch a video during a ceremony honoring Ovechkin's becoming the NHL all-time goals leader prior to the Capitals' game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Capital One Arena.

Ted Leonsis Says His $7B Sports Empire Beats the NFL Model

Why synergy is the future of sports ownership.
July 9, 2009; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons president Joe Dumars during the press conference to introduce their new head coach John Kuester at their practice facility.
April 14, 2025

Joe Dumars Leaving NBA League Office to Run Pelicans

Joe Dumars was the architect of the 2004 champion Pistons.
April 25, 2025

The Former NBA Agent Who Became a Pickleball Deputy Commissioner

Chris Patrick went from representing Jimmy Butler to pickleball deputy commissioner.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
March 13, 2025

Junior Bridgeman Was the Prototype for Business Success After Sports

He started with Wendy’s franchises, later expanding into bottling, magazines, and more.
Feb 12, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, US; A$AP Rocky on the sideline after halftime during Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium.
February 27, 2025

A$AP Rocky Could Be Latest Celebrity Owner in English Soccer

Following his acquittal, the rapper is closer to owning Tranmere Rovers.
Oct 23, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat president Pat Riley addresses the crowd during the Pat Riley Court dedication ceremony at halftime at Kaseya Center.
February 14, 2025

Here’s Where Pat Riley’s Three-Peat Trademark Money Goes

Riley has the phrase trademarked despite having no three-peat of his own.
Dec 1, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters (L) talks with Commanders owner Josh Harris (R) on the field prior to the game against the Tennessee Titans at Northwest Stadium.
December 4, 2024

CEO Leaves $13 Billion Soup Company to Run Commanders

The new president will lead the planning and development of the team’s stadium.