If things are going well for the Knicks on the court with two consecutive conference semifinals, and big ambitions for next season with the arrival of Mikal Bridges, behind the scenes, James Dolan is not happy.
For months, the owner of the New York franchise has been at war with Adam Silver and the other owners, criticizing the new TV contract and generally all the decisions of the NBA.
“The NBA has adopted the NFL model, which reduces the importance and power of the local market”wrote James Dolan. “Soon, your only concern for revenue will be ticket sales and next year’s jersey color. But don’t worry, because through revenue pooling, you’re guaranteed neither success nor failure. Of course, to do that, the league must break up the successful franchises and redistribute to the less successful. This new media deal goes a long way toward that goal.”
Alone against all
James Dolan does not support the redistribution put in place by the NBA during the last collective agreements, which requires franchises in large markets to give a share of their revenues to franchises in small markets, so that no one loses money. Among the first redistributors, the businessman is thus annoyed.
As a result, ESPN reports that the 69-year-old billionaire has sent a new letter to the board of directors, made up of the 30 owners of the Major League Baseball, ahead of their meeting, scheduled for Tuesday in New York.
Still regretting “a lack of transparency”, he announced that he would oppose the vote on the operating budget for the 2024/25 season as well as the election of the board of directors. Even if that should not change anything since James Dolan should be the only owner not to validate the votes scheduled for today.
