Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Jun 13, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; New York Knicks owner James Dolan is interviewed by ESPN broadcaster Ernie Johnson during the trophy ceremony after game five of the 2026 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center.
For the first time in over 50 years, the New York Knicks are the champions of the NBA after rolling past the San Antonio Spurs in the Finals.
However, if Knicks fans are hoping this is the beginning of some sort of lengthy dynasty, they may want to think again.
While New York may seem well-positioned for long-term success, given their impressive depth and superstars Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, it appears that team owner James Dolan isn’t willing to go to extreme lengths to keep the team together moving forward.
James Dolan Won’t Go Into Second Apron To Keep New York Knicks Together
Dolan appeared on local radio station WFAN on Wednesday and stated that “we cannot go into the second apron,” when asked what he’d be willing to do to keep the Knicks’ current core together.
New York is currently projected at $13 million below the second apron entering the offseason, but key rotation players Mitchell Robinson and Landry Shamet are set to become free agents, while Jose Alvarado could also opt out of his $4.5 million player option.
“I don’t know if we’ll be able to,” he said of keeping the current team together. “We’re willing to stretch, but there’s certain things in the NBA that you’d have to be suicidal to do. One of them is the second apron.
“I’ll write as big of a check as possible, but I can’t write a check into the second apron.”
Now, to Dolan’s credit, there is a downside to surpassing the second tax apron, which only the Cleveland Cavaliers did in 2025-26. Teams that surpass the threshold are limited in what they can do in free agency and other roster-building mechanisms moving forward.
And the Knicks do have their entire starting five under contract through next season. However, it appears that team president Leon Rose will need to get creative if he wants to keep the team’s impressive depth intact.