James Dolan issues heartfelt thank you to Knicks fans at championship celebration

The New York Knicks are in the middle of their championship celebration on Thursday after winning the 2026 NBA Finals with a 94-90 Game 5 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, June 13. With the parade reaching its final destination, owner James Dolan thanked fans for supporting the team over the years.

While standing at the podium, talking to the fans directly, Dolan claimed the Knicks are going to do everything possible to be an even better team next season and beyond, according to SNY Knicks. The 71-year-old team owner thanked the fanbase twice in his message.

“Thank you for supporting our team,” said Dolan. “We’re gonna keep working to bring you even better basketball, although it’s hard to imagine that we get much better than this. But we will, right fellas?” Dolan asked the Knicks team sitting near him. “And thank you again for your support.”

"Thank you for supporting our team. We're gonna keep working to bring you even better basketball – although it's hard to imagine that we get much better than this – but we will, right fellas?"

– James Dolan pic.twitter.com/zYASqyojcz

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) June 18, 2026

This is the first championship for the Knicks in 53 years. The last time the organization brought home the title was in 1973. It was one of the longest droughts in the NBA, as only the Sacramento Kings (75 years) and Atlanta Hawks (68 years) have had, and currently still have, longer droughts.

Additionally, this is the first time a James Dolan-owned team has won a championship. The New York Rangers have not won the Stanley Cup since 1994, about five years before Dolan became the owner of the famed hockey organization.

The Knicks will have their work cut out for them to potentially repeat next season. There hasn’t been a repeat champion since the Golden State Warriors, who won the title in 2017 and 2018.

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