Stephen A. Smith says he has heard there is friction between James Dolan and Knicks players over a possible White House visit, but he also made clear he has not confirmed the claim with the players themselves.
On First Take, Smith said the chatter he has picked up around New York and Madison Square Garden points to a different kind of atmosphere inside the organization. He did not say which players were involved or offer specifics about any visit.
“This is what I’ve been hearing, and I’m going to say it. I don’t know how much truth there is to it because I haven’t heard from the players directly.
But one of the things that people have been talking about around New York City and around Madison Square Garden is that the climate was a little bit different. People have been a little bit stressed because the owner, James Dolan, has an attitude with players because they don’t want to go to the White House.”
From there, Smith turned the conversation into a broad shot at Dolan’s leadership. He said he would believe almost anything involving the Knicks owner and called him “a walking embodiment of petulance” and “as petty as they come.”
He also tied the issue to his bigger concern as a Knicks fan: that Dolan might be comfortable with just one title. Smith pointed to the team’s championship - its first in 53 years - and said he worries the owner could settle instead of pushing for more.
In Smith’s telling, Dolan is the kind of owner who could look at one ring and think that’s enough for a long stretch. He contrasted that with owners he views as driven to keep winning, naming Joe Lacob and the late George Steinbrenner.
“This guy, Dolan, I don’t trust him. I don’t trust him one bit.
I think that complacency is something that he could definitely be a part of. He is petty enough to have an attitude because he’s tight with Trump and wants to go to the White House.
And some of the players, if not most of them, might not want to go.”
Smith said he was not trying to get lost in the politics of the situation. His main point, he said, is that the Knicks are champions and should be focused on defending that crown. He also said Leon Rose, William Wesley and the assistant coaches have earned their pay and recognition.
He extended that praise to the people who work at Madison Square Garden, calling them “phenomenal,” while also describing years of frustration under Dolan. Smith said the arena employees, including security and concessions workers, have dealt with a difficult environment for a long time.
The segment also circled back to the ring issue that stirred controversy around the Knicks’ celebration. Reports suggested assistant coaches received empty boxes during the opening-night ceremony, which drew criticism.
Later, the organization addressed that situation. MSG said it was giving out more than 275 championship rings and jewelry items worth more than $3.7 million to players, coaches, employees and other members of the Knicks organization.
The company also said using a championship ring offer in a simulated phishing email was a very unfortunate mistake. Reports said assistant coaches would get their rings later.
Even with that clarification, Smith’s larger concern remained the same. He said the offseason noise could become a distraction as the Knicks try to defend their title and chase more than one championship.
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