James Dolan Gives Bold Prediction, Explains Why Knicks Won't Raise NBA Cup Banner

New York Knicks governor James Dolan detailed his high expectations for the team while explaining why a banner wouldn't be raised at Madison Square Garden for winning the 2025 NBA Cup.

"We are going to raise the banner," Dolan said, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. "We're going to raise the NBA championship banner. That's what we're going to raise."

SNY's Ian Begley previously reported that the Knicks wouldn't raise a banner for their NBA Cup title because they have "bigger goals in mind," winning the NBA Finals in June.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks, winners of the first two tournaments, both raised banners to commemorate the accomplishment.

New York defeated the San Antonio Spurs by the final score of 124-113 in the NBA Cup final on Dec. 16.

Despite the lack of a banner, the Knicks held a brief ceremony to celebrate the win prior to a game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Dec. 19.

While New York hasn't raised a banner for an NBA Finals victory since 1973, the team has emerged as a contender to open the 2025-26 season after advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2025.

The Knicks currently sit at No. 2 in the East standings with a 23-12 record, owning the No. 4 scoring offense in the league by averaging 120.5 points per game (via NBA.com).

Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns have continued to lead the way for New York offensively, surrounded by a supporting cast that also includes OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson.

While the Knicks have struggled as of late and are currently in the midst of a three-game losing streak, Dolan is still looking forward to potentially raising a banner for a championship in the future.