James Dolan's April Speech to Knicks Before NBA Title Run Seen in Video, 'This Team Can Win It All'

With all of the loaded teams in the NBA, the New York Knicks weren't the favorites to win it all heading into the playoffs.

But team governor James Dolan never doubted them.

In a speech to the Knicks before the playoffs, Dolan told his team that he had the utmost confidence in them.

"I believe that this team can go all the way… This team can win it all," Dolan said (1:10 mark). "In my 30 years of doing this, I've never felt closer to achieving that goal than right now. This team can win it all."

Dolan expressed the sacrifice that it takes to win a championship, not just for players, but for their families.

"You go home, you talk to your families, you talk to your girlfriends, you talk to your wives, and you tell them about the next 10 weeks," he said (10-minute mark). "About how you're going to differ for the next 10 weeks. About how your families are going to sacrifice for the next 10 weeks... Those concerns at home, they can't come on the court, they can't come to practice."

He even joked about an unconventional method to get his players to lock in for the playoffs.

"I had this idea that maybe you should give up sex for the next 10 weeks," he said before making it known that wasn't being required.

For their sacrifice, Dolan said that he would give players' significant others championship rings.

"When we get rings, so will they," Dolan said. "I will buy a ring for each one of your significant others, because their contribution is going to be very important for this team winning."

Clearly, Dolan's message got across to the Knicks as they put together one of the best playoff runs in recent memory.

After dropping a pair of games against the Atlanta Hawks, New York went on to win 13 consecutive games, including sweeps of the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Knicks then disposed of the Spurs in five games, capped off by a 45-point performance from Finals MVP Jalen Brunson.

The championship snapped a 53-year drought for New York and brought Dolan his most successful season since taking over in the 1990s.