Jun 18, 2026; New York, NY, USA; CEO of MSG Network James Dolan gets ready to throw a shirt during the New York Knicks Championship Parade through the Canyon of Heroes. Mandatory Credit: Brenden Willsch-Imagn Images
Jun 18, 2026; New York, NY, USA; CEO of MSG Network James Dolan gets ready to throw a shirt during the New York Knicks Championship Parade through the Canyon of Heroes. Mandatory Credit: Brenden Willsch-Imagn Images
The New York Knicks celebrated their highly anticipated banner night on the opening day of the 2026-27 regular season. But that night was followed by reports that left the Knicks’ fans with a bad taste in their mouths.
According to Joe Vardon of The Athletic, the Knicks’ assistant coaches certainly didn’t get their NBA rings on banner night.
“Seven league sources, all speaking on condition of anonymity so they could talk freely about a sensitive matter, said the Knicks assistant coaches did not get rings on banner night,” Joe Vardon reported.
“Two of those sources told The Athletic that the assistants learned earlier Tuesday that they would not be getting their rings that evening, which came as no surprise because they had not yet been fitted for one and that boxes without their rings were a late addition to the ceremony.”
“Team sources described the assistants’ reactions to not getting rings ranging from genuine anger to annoyance. The Athletic received conflicting information about whether head coach Mike Brown received his ring on Tuesday and could not immediately verify if he got one.”
“We are not disclosing anything about the rings,” an MSG Sports spokesperson reportedly said in a statement to The Athletic Thursday evening.
Vardon’s report also indicated that the executive chairman James Dolan and the Knicks franchise have long been at odds with commissioner Adam Silver; it was unclear why Adam Silver, who usually hands out the rings to the assistant coaches, didn’t speak at the ceremony at all, and whether that had anything to do with the rings not being presented to the coaching staff.
Joe Vardon also said this happened last year during the Thunder’s ring ceremony, but then it was because of a delay in ring-sizing for assistant coaches, who eventually got the ring.
“The Knicks assistants were told they would receive championship rings eventually, but many longtime employees at Madison Square Garden, including some who work in the Knicks’ business operations, will not receive rings at all, team sources told The Athletic,” Vardon added.
“Typically, most employees for NBA teams receive rings, even if they are not as fancy and expensive as the ones the players receive. Those Madison Square Garden employees got their hopes up at the end of September when the Knicks sent an email to a long list of employees, which gave recipients a first glimpse at their would-be championship rings.”
“Atop the email, a copy of which The Athletic has obtained, was a graphic of two differently styled rings. ‘Congratulations, your Employee Championship Ring is here,’ the email read.
“(Employee name), this one is on the house. MSG is issuing a complimentary Employee Championship Ring. The same jeweler, the same craftsmanship, personalized with your name. No cost to you. There are two designs to choose from: Championship Gold and Garden Classic. Reserve the one you want below.”
But the email was apparently a fake-out, a phishing test Madison Square Garden sent to see if those employees would click, multiple team sources told Vardon.
“Those who did click the link at the bottom of the message did not get to choose any jewelry; instead, they were forced to attend a mandatory cybersecurity class to help satisfy some of Dolan’s growing cybersecurity concerns, those team sources said,” Vardon concluded.
So while assistant coaches and team employees often get their championship rings later, the Knicks’ actions have certainly raised some eyebrows.
First, they stayed silent on the issue, then suspiciously excluded the commissioner’s address on banner night. To top it off, the team gave employees false hope and forced them to attend a cybersecurity seminar to satisfy James Dolan’s concerns.
These actions drew significant backlash on social media as Knicks fans began calling out James Dolan.
“Don’t let the Knicks winning the championship make you forget James Dolan is a terrible person and owner.”
“Phishing email is cruel, f–k Dolan.”
“Only Jimmy Dolan can make a championship feel like a massive f–king L.”
“Disgraceful job by James Dolan.”
“There is a special place in hell for people like Dolan.”
“Even if there’s a logical explanation, it still makes Dolan look like the a–hole he’s always been. The article notes that Adam Silver didn’t participate in the ring ceremony because of friction between him and Dolan.”
Even though MSG faced a lawsuit this summer for allowing a data breach, nothing justifies playing with his employees’ emotions like that.
The controversy has cast a shadow over what should have been a celebratory moment for the Knicks organization. While the assistant coaches are reportedly expected to receive their rings eventually, the treatment of other employees has sparked criticism.
As James Dolan faces renewed backlash, the franchise’s silence has only fueled further speculation. It will be interesting to see how the Knicks justify this decision.
Chaitanya Dadhwal is an NBA Analyst and Columnist at Fadeaway World, based in New Delhi, India. His passion for basketball began in 2018 after watching James Harden during his prime, eventually leading him to pursue a career in sports journalism in 2021. He began writing professionally while completing his law degree at Jindal Global Law School in Sonipat, India, where he graduated in 2022 and developed a particular interest in Sports Law. Chaitanya ultimately chose journalism over a career in law after realizing that his passion for sports, and basketball in particular, was where he wanted to build his career. His work focuses on breaking down complex NBA storylines, analyzing player and team decisions, and presenting different sides of an argument to provide readers with a balanced perspective. While he strives to maintain an objective approach in his journalism, Chaitanya openly admits to being a passionate supporter of the Houston Rockets and Arsenal. That combination of analytical thinking and personal passion allows him to simplify complex ideas and present them in an accessible way for basketball fans. Beyond journalism, Chaitanya hopes to establish his own sports management agency and represent athletes. His long-term goal is to help create greater equality of opportunity for athletes across different sports and genders, using his legal background and experience in sports media to help bridge gaps within the industry.