The Knicks are walking into opening night with a championship banner, fresh rings, and a whole lot of eyes on Madison Square Garden. But before the season even tips, James Dolan is already catching heat over how New York handled extension talks with Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart.
Last week, the Knicks announced they were stopping all contract extension negotiations with both players. The organization had been trying to work out long-term deals on team-friendly terms, but those offers apparently didn’t sit right with the players, who felt they weren’t being valued properly. After weeks at the table, New York decided to shut the talks down and turn its full attention to defending the title.
Stephen A. Smith didn’t hide how he feels about that move.
“I'm pretty pissed off because we are a week away from the season opener,” Smith said. “The NBA season jump-starts for the 2026-2027 NBA season.
There will be a ring ceremony inside of Madison Square Garden. Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby Mikal Bridges will be receiving championship rings.
It's going to be the first time in 53 years that the New York Knicks will be crowned champions, and we were looking forward to this season, particularly with the season opener being against LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers. Leave it to James Dolan to deflate the whole situation by cutting off contract talks with Karl-Anthony Towns and swearing up and down that they gonna focus on the season.
Who the hell does he think he is?”
ONE WEEK AWAY, and James Dolan is ALREADY starting trouble! pic.twitter.com/XnwTkYJnxQ
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) October 13, 2026
Smith then took his criticism even further, suggesting the title may have changed Dolan’s approach.
“I'm going to make an accusation and it's just an accusation,” Smith continued. “This is my concern.
James Dolan is a champion now and that one championship in my opinion based on what we've seen since from him is going to give him the license to say hell I already delivered the championship to the city of New York. I ain't got to do another one for another quarter century.
So it ain't going to be about prioritizing winning. It ain't gonna be about prioritizing doing the right thing.
Is James Dolan getting too comfortable after winning one championship? pic.twitter.com/lEp6xqDpwL
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) October 13, 2026
It's going to be about saving a dollar even though the man's a billionaire. Karl-Anthony towns is doing 277 million dollar extension.
Here comes James Dolan offering them 200 million really 77 million below what an extension demand. You couldn't do something more respectable than that.
Nah, because he ain't trying to touch the second apron.”
The Knicks will open their 2026-27 regular season against the 76ers on Tuesday night as part of an NBA opening night triple-header.
In Other News...
James Wiseman May Have Forced His Way Into Knicks Final Roster Spot
James Wiseman arrived in camp on an Exhibit 9 deal, the kind of low-risk signing that usually reads more like an invitation than a guarantee. But as preseason has rolled on, the former No. 1 pick has given the Knicks reason to pay closer attention, especially after a double-double that added some real weight to his push for a roster spot.
The Knicks do not have many openings to work with, and the back end of the roster is still very much in play. Still, Wiseman has at least put himself into the conversation as a possible third center, and Mike Browns previous experience coaching him only adds another layer to a decision that could come down to fit as much as upside. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Roster Battle Took Shape In A Blowout Fans Can Ignore
The Knicks trip to Toronto was the kind of preseason loss that barely registers in the standings but can still matter in the back of the roster. New York fell to 0-4 with its top-seven players unavailable, leaving the game to serve more as an audition than an evaluation of the teams real rotation. From that angle, the focus turned to the active players who got extended looks, including Nickel, Eubanks and Wiseman, and what they showed in a game that was never really about the final score.
What made the night worth watching was less the blowout than the way it sharpened the roster conversation. The Knicks are still sorting through which fringe pieces can help beyond camp, and this matchup offered a clearer view of strengths and weaknesses than a typical preseason box score ever could. Even with the result fully detachable from the standings, performances like these can still leave a mark on how the final decisions get made. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Still Face One Roster Decision That Could Change Their Bench
With one roster spot still open, the Knicks are weighing a decision that could shape the balance of their bench heading into the season. The choice comes down to James Wiseman and Bruce Brown, two very different players who would fill different needs as New York rounds out the back end of the roster.
Browns experience and defensive versatility stand out as obvious selling points for a team looking to tighten up its second unit. There is also a path, at least in theory, for the Knicks to keep both if they work out a trade involving Pacme Dadiet and second-round draft picks before the season opener, which would give the front office a little more flexibility while leaving this final roster call unresolved. [Read more 🡒]