New York Knicks owner James Dolan said anything short of an NBA championship this season would be a disappointment, setting the clearest expectations yet for the franchise. Dolan made the comments Monday during a WFAN radio interview with Craig Carton, as reported Tuesday by Zach Powell of The Athletic.
“Yeah, we want to get to the finals and we should win the finals,” Dolan said. “This is sports, this is business and anything can happen, but getting to the finals, we absolutely got to do. Winning the finals, we should win.”
The remarks come as New York continues to establish itself as a consistent Eastern Conference contender. The Knicks entered Tuesday at 23-13, third in the East, trailing only Detroit and Boston.
New York is averaging 119.6 points per game, third in the conference, while holding opponents to 115.1. That balance has kept the team in the upper tier of the standings through the first half of the 2025-26 season.
Jalen Brunson has anchored the offense, averaging 29.2 points and 6.3 assists while playing 35.3 minutes per night. Karl-Anthony Towns has added 21.5 points and 11.5 rebounds, providing consistent interior production.
Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby have supplied two-way impact on the wings, while Miles McBride and Josh Hart have stabilized the rotation with efficient perimeter shooting and rebounding. The Knicks have also leaned on depth, with nine players averaging at least nine points per game.
Dolan’s comments reflect how far the franchise has come since Leon Rose was named president in March 2020. After missing the playoffs in Rose’s first season, New York has reached the postseason in four of the last five years.
The Knicks advanced to the second round in 2023 and 2024 before breaking through to the Eastern Conference finals in 2025. That run marked the team’s deepest playoff appearance since 2000.
Now led by head coach Mike Brown, New York has shifted from long-term rebuilding goals to immediate title expectations. Dolan’s comments publicly align ownership with that timeline.
The Eastern Conference remains crowded, with Boston, Detroit, and several playoff-tested teams positioned near the top. New York’s margin for error will narrow as the postseason approaches.
