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Zen Garden

After decades of dysfunction, the Knicks won their first title since 1973 thanks to Jim Dolan, of all people, finally trusting the right basketball specialists and resisting the mistakes that defined the previous 25 years. Mike Breen, the voice of the team, and clutch ESPN analyst Brian Windhorst break it down.

Jim Dolan
The New York Knicks owner, Jim Dolan Photo: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images
John Ourand
June 16, 2026

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The New York Knicks have been among the NBA’s worst teams since Jim Dolan took over operational control more than a quarter century ago—a dark passage that featured the Isiah Thomas misadventure, the ill-advised Larry Brown season, the Phil Jackson cameo, the Durant tease, and other notable moments of pique and infamy. A couple of years ago, the franchise finally started showing signs of legitimate contention, culminating in this year’s explosive and surprising title run. On Saturday, the Knicks won their first championship since 1973. Afterward, legions of fans who made the trip toasted them in the hinterlands of San Antonio.