Well, after 53 years, the New York Knicks are NBA champions. And despite some bumps along the way, the Knicks won 16 of their 19 playoff games on route to a historic title. Joining us now for an exclusive TV interview is the man who made this all possible, James Dolan, CEO, executive chairman of Madison Square Garden. Jim, nice to have you back on Good Day.
This is amazing. Have you gotten any sleep after everything?
I finally got a few hours last night, but it's been long.
So, let me ask you something. Did you have any inclination at all about how this city would react during this championship period?
Not like this. I knew that there was a lot of pent-up frustration, but we're obviously really happy about how people have all come together. The whole city's turned to orange. It's great for the city. It's great to see people coming together on something.
I was about to say we're proud to be New Yorkers. I mean, you have brought everybody together. We all forgot about our problems, our politics, and you brought us all together. And it's the power of the Knicks. What was it about this team that brought this elation?
I think that it was the team itself. I mean, the guys. They're all lovely people, good character people, and I think that people felt that throughout the season, but particularly in the playoffs. With Jalen leading them, they're very likable.
When did you know or did you have any idea that this team could go all the way?
You felt it last year. What was it about it?
Well, we made it to the semi-finals, right? We just needed a little something more and we could get over the hurdle. We saw it last year in the playoffs and we just needed to go the rest of the way.
Now, I know you were very instrumental with giving them a pep talk and saying, you know, stay focused. What was that pep talk like for you?
For me it was important because I had never spoken to the team like that before.
Because I never felt that it was my turn to do that. I wasn't going to tell them how to play. That's the coach's job. But I thought I had a message that they needed to hear, and so I gave it to them.
And you know what? It's funny because sometimes, you know, when these guys are in a championship season, you hear that they're out in the clubs and carousing and they're out late. That's not our guys.
And was it the pep talk where you kind of put them on notice?
No, no. Look, I can't take credit for that. They're high-quality people and they were focused. I was able to talk to them and help them focus, but they would have focused anyway, I think. As I said to them at the beginning, I just had to be sure that I told them about what this was going to be and what they could do.
One part of the pep talk that's going viral. We have a little clip of your pep talk. Let's listen.
I had this idea that maybe you should give up sex for the next 10 weeks. You don't have to give up sex for the next 10 weeks. Go home, talk to your wives, tell them don't tell me you're not going to have sex. And don't tell them it was my idea.
Well, some of them told their wives about this.
Well, and I'm not sure whether they listened to you or not.
Oh, no, they heard me for sure.
Because the pep talk was really about 10 weeks, right? It actually became a thing around the team talking about 10 weeks. Could we stay focused for 10 weeks? The whole thing about no sex was more of a joke than anything else, but it was to emphasize the point that it was going to require sacrifice over those 10 weeks. Our guys did sacrifice because you can't take the problems from home and bring them to work. They were able to focus.
And tomorrow, everybody's city coming together again, the parade. Tell me about what's going through your mind about the parade and how you're going to soak it in.
Well, I've never been in a parade before, so I have no idea other than it's going to be great. We put it together with the city. We have everybody from Clyde to the old team to the new team, the Knicks City Dancers, there's like five marching bands. When we get to City Hall, we have a special performance by Alicia Keys.
Special performance by Alicia Keys.
