Dave Portnoy’s issue with the New York Knicks’ championship run is not really about the team itself.
The Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, closing out the series 4-1 to claim their first title since 1973. Jalen Brunson led the way with 45 points and was named Finals MVP.
Portnoy, a lifelong Boston sports fan, still sounded frustrated by the result. But his comments made it clear that his problem is not with the players, it is with the fan base.
Dave Portnoy Knicks criticism aimed at fans not players
Dave Portnoy on X said he actually finds the Knicks team likable, but argued that their fans are “everything that makes people hate New York.”
He started by praising the roster and Brunson’s role in shaping it: “And my hat’s off to the Knicks players who are a very likable team. I mean, how can you not like Brunson? He’s small, everyone doubted him. He gave back money to create a team. He doesn’t talk trash. He’s not a me guy. He’s with these Villanova guys.”
He then drew a clear line between the team and the supporters: “They’re a supremely likable team. Their fans are jerks. Their fans is everything that makes people hate New York. They riot and they burn down the city like it’s Gotham. Then they complain and say, these aren’t Knicks fans. They’re all wearing Knicks shirts.”
Portnoy was not calling the title a fluke, either. He specifically said there was nothing flukish about what Brunson can do offensively.
Knicks NBA Finals win gave Portnoy praise and frustration at once
The game itself offered little room for criticism. Brunson scored 15 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 straight for the Knicks, as they completed another comeback to seal the series.
Portnoy also referenced Brunson’s financial sacrifice. The Knicks guard signed a four-year extension in 2024 rather than waiting for a larger possible deal, a move widely seen as helping the team’s roster flexibility.
His frustration was more about what happened off the court. Reports from New York described major street celebrations after the championship, including arrests and destructive behavior in some areas.
Portnoy also criticized the celebrity presence around the Knicks, though he acknowledged that long-time supporters like Spike Lee and Ben Stiller have been around for years.
That sums up his position: he respects Brunson and the Knicks, but still cannot stand the way New York celebrates.
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