The New York Knicks have mostly been a laughingstock under owner James Dolan. They reached the NBA Finals in his first year, but have made the playoffs just eight times since 1999. Gone are the days of the Knicks being a perennial contender, but they could be returning after their run to the second round of the playoffs in 2023.
The Knicks’ woes under Dolan have stemmed from mismanagement. There was Isiah Thomas’s horrific reign (subscription required) as president of basketball operations in the early 2000s. After his departure, New York churned through six lead executives in 12 years, including an abysmal reign by Phil Jackson, before Leon Rose took over in 2020.