Knicks’ James Dolan Confidently Downplays NBA Cup Banner While Hinting at Something Bigger 2 May 29, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau reacts in game five of the eastern conference finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Knicks’ James Dolan Confidently Downplays NBA Cup Banner While Hinting at Something Bigger

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Reign Amurao | Last updated Jan 5, 2026 10:42 PM ET

The New York Knicks were the third team to win the Emirates NBA Cup. However, they were the first team to break the tradition of hanging a banner. The first two winners of the in-season tournament, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Milwaukee Bucks, both raised a banner. However, team owner James Dolan sees New York as a team with bigger dreams.

The decision to hang banners began as a tradition to celebrate the competitiveness of the in-season tournament. In a recent press conference, the owner, who has a net worth of $2 billion, addressed the decision not to hang a banner.

“We are going to raise the banner. We’re going to raise the NBA championship banner. That’s the banner we want to raise,” Dolan said. “We want an NBA championship, we don’t want some consolation prize.”

Although he downplayed the NBA Cup win, Dolan expressed how proud he is of the Knicks for what they achieved.

“But to get a chance midseason to try out what you’re going to be like at the end of the season, it was exciting,” the business mogul continued. “I was very proud of the guys. They did a great job and we’re proud to have the Emirates Cup, but we’re going to hang a championship banner, a real banner.”

James Dolan addressed the Knicks’ decision to fire Tom Thibodeau

The Knicks were successful last season under coach Tom Thibodeau. For the first time since 2000, the team reached the Eastern Conference finals. However, New York lost to the Indiana Pacers. Despite the accomplishment, the front office fired Thibodeau and replaced him with Mike Brown.

During his media availability, Dolan talked about the team’s decision to part ways with Thibodeau.

“But we did come to the conclusion that we had an idea of how we wanted to organize the team, and actually it goes for both teams [Knicks and Rangers], and that meant we needed to evolve beyond the old traditional coaching formulas, etc. And we tried to work that with Tom and it really wasn’t his thing,” the owner said.

Things worked out for the Knicks as they are 23-12 and second in the East. The team has a chance to be a threat in the postseason.

This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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