VERY LITTLE & VERY LATE
Knicks, Dolan put out statement two weeks after Floyd killing
The Knicks broke their silence on the social unrest. Sort of. Without mentioning George Floyd’s death or the dominant issue of police brutality, James Dolan’s team released a statement so vague and brief you wonder what could’ve possibly taken it so long.
“Every one of us has a role to play in creating a more just and equal society where there is no racism, bigotry, violence or hate,” the statement read. “We stand with all who act for a positive change.”
The statement followed a flow of criticism directed at the Knicks, who were the
last NBA team to speak on the social issues gripping the country. A source confirmed that MSG employees were upset by the silence, prompting Dolan to send an internal memo explaining his stance.
“As com- panies in the business of sports and entertainment, however, we are not any more qualified than anyone else to offer our opinion on social matters,” Dolan wrote.
The owner attempted to clarify in a follow-up internal email, obtained by SNY, by explaining that the company’s actions speak louder. A week later, the Knicks sent their statement via Twitter.
Multiple former NBAers had condemned the Knicks for their silence, including Caron Butler, who implied that Black athletes won’t want to play for Dolan.
“And to say nothing in one of the biggest moments, I think, in our lifetime, that we’ve been able to experience and all rally around and have a hand in and be a part of, and to be absent in that moment? That’s just, that tells you a lot,” Butler told HoopsHype. “And I know that a lot of players are like, ‘how can I go run through a brick wall for this organization and understand and know that my rights probably don’t really matter to this individual?’”
Days before the Knicks’ statement, former Cavs center Kendrick Perkins insulted Dolan on ESPN. Dolan is a friend and supporter of president Donald Trump, who deployed the national guard to handle protesters.
“Nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to James ‘Cupcake’ Dolan,” Perkins said. “And if you want to be nice about it and call him James L. Dolan, make sure the ‘L’ stands for lost, because he’s lost… The New York Knicks are the weakest link in the NBA. They don’t represent what the NBA is all about. The NBA is about a brotherhood. The NBA represents leadership. And guess what? James Dolan and the New York Knicks lack in both of those categories.”
The Knicks’ statement was a sharp contrast to the one issued this week by Nets owner Joe Tsai, who welcomed the protestors outside his Barclays Center.
“Those of us who cannot possibly experience the personal pain and indignity of racism towards black people feel a sense of helplessness as frustration and anxiety reach a boiling point. But it does not mean that we sit idle,” Tsai told the Daily News’ Kristian Winfield. “We have said that we will use the voice and platform of the Nets, Liberty and Barclays Center to facilitate empathy and dialogue. In Brooklyn, the Plaza at Flatbush and Atlantic has become a place for people to assemble and have their voice heard. If it continues to serve as a place where everyone from our community — from residents to businesses to police alike — gather peacefully to listen to each other and find common ground, then it’s good with me.”