James Dolan, Knicks
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James Dolan reacts during a Knicks game as he sends a clear message on Giannis trade rumors.
New York Knicks owner James Dolan shut down speculation linking his team to a blockbuster trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, saying he believes the Knicks already have a championship-caliber roster and do not need to chase a superstar at the expense of chemistry.
In a surprise appearance on WFAN, Dolan was asked directly about reports that New York explored a deal for the Milwaukee Bucks star during an exclusive negotiating window last summer.
“Not that I’m aware of,” Dolan said. “We love our team right now. They have chemistry. They all like each other. I’ve never seen a locker room more copacetic. There’s a lot of energy in there. Leon can always overrule me, but I don’t see us making a big change. This group can win a championship. I believe that.”
Why James Dolan Says the Knicks Don’t Need Giannis
Dolan emphasized that continuity — not disruption — is New York’s competitive advantage.
“Look how far we got with our group last year,” Dolan said. “Then take a look at who was playing and who wasn’t. We had injuries. Now we’re going into the second half of the season with more depth. If we stay healthy, we’ll go into the playoffs in much better condition.”
The Knicks reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years last season before falling to Indiana, a loss that led to a coaching change.
Mike Brown replaced Tom Thibodeau, and under Brown, New York has embraced a faster pace, more ball movement, and a broader rotation — changes that paid off with an NBA Cup championship in Las Vegas earlier this season.
Dolan: ‘We’re Raising One Banner — the Right One’
While proud of the midseason success, Dolan made clear that banners only matter in June.
“We are going to raise the banner. We’re going to raise the NBA championship banner,” Dolan said. “That’s the banner we want. We don’t want some consolation prize.”
He described the NBA Cup as a valuable measuring stick — not a destination.
“To get a chance midseason to try out what you’re going to be like at the end of the season, it was exciting. But the goal is still a championship.”
What Happened With the Giannis Trade Talks
Giannis Antetokounmpo praised the New York Knicks on March 28.
Photo by Elsa/Getty ImagesGiannis Antetokounmpo reportedly preferred to be traded to the New York Knicks last offseason.
In October, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Antetokounmpo and the Bucks had entered what he described as an “exclusive negotiating window” with the Knicks.
But the talks never advanced.
Chicago radio host Lou Canellis later reported why:
“Knicks wouldn’t move off — would not offer more than just Karl-Anthony Towns,” Canellis said last month on 670 The Score.
Milwaukee deemed that insufficient and shut down discussions. Charania reported the Bucks did not believe New York presented a compelling enough package.
Knicks’ Current Reality: A Contender, Not a Star Chaser
Despite a recent three-game skid and injuries to Josh Hart and Landry Shamet, the Knicks enter Tuesday as the No. 2 seed, preparing to face No. 1 Detroit on the road.
They are 2–3 without Hart, whose absence has exposed defensive and pace issues — but his return is expected soon.
Dolan framed those struggles as temporary — not structural.
“We’ve got depth,” he said. “We’ve got energy, we’ve got chemistry.”
That belief is now institutional.
Big Picture: The Knicks Choose Identity Over Star-Chasing
The Knicks spent decades chasing names.
They are now protecting something rarer: coherence.
With a star guard in Jalen Brunson, a versatile frontcourt, a modern system, and organizational alignment from ownership to locker room, New York has chosen to build forward — not gamble sideways.
Dolan’s message was not just about Giannis.
It was about evolution.
The Knicks are no longer searching for relevance.
They are protecting it.
And for the first time in a generation, New York believes the path to a title is already in its locker room.