James Dolan isn’t exactly known for his subtlety. But when the New York Knicks owner reportedly sent a strange directive to his players ahead of the playoffs, even his most loyal fans had to do a double-take.
According to SNY’s Ian Begley, Dolan jokingly asked the Knicks roster to “avoid fornication” during the postseason. The owner also urged them to resolve any internal disagreements through direct conversation — not passive-aggressive comments to the media. Yes, the same James Dolan who’s been famously hands-off with basketball decisions in recent years apparently got motivational.
Wait, did it work?
Strange advice — but the results are undeniable. The Knicks just ended a 53-year championship drought by beating the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on the road. And while no one’s crediting celibacy for the title, the run itself was anything but predictable.
New York fell behind 2-1 in the first round against the Atlanta Hawks. From that point, they went 15-1, with the only loss coming in Game 3 of the Finals. The team followed a familiar script in nearly every win: fall behind big early, claw back, and make every clutch play down the stretch.
The players who made it happen
Jalen Brunson played like a top-five point guard in the league. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges delivered on both ends — versatile defense and timely shotmaking — justifying the massive haul New York gave up to land them. Karl-Anthony Towns elevated his defense while remaining a matchup nightmare on offense.
The Knicks did what few thought possible. They’re now NBA champions for the first time since 1973. The parade is set for Thursday in Manhattan, and Dolan is likely delighted — celibacy jokes and all.
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