James Dolan fired back at NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani while also making his feelings on Donald Trump very clear after a tense NBA Finals stretch at Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks owner has been at the center of several off-court storylines during New York’s Finals run. Trump’s Game 3 visit created boos, security issues, and political noise, while the city’s watch-party rules added another layer of friction around the Garden.
Dolan did not sound interested in smoothing that over. Instead, he questioned Mamdani’s Knicks credentials and defended the president he hosted during the series.
James Dolan says Zohran Mamdani is not a New York Knicks fan
Tommy Beer shared James Dolan’s comments on Zohran Mamdani as the Madison Square Garden owner took aim at the mayor.
“He’s not a Knicks fan,” Dolan said.
The remark came after tension between MSG and city officials over Game 4 watch-party plans. The city approved a smaller, ticketed setup after violence and arrests followed Game 3, but MSG officials pushed back against strict security measures.
That disagreement turned a fan celebration into another Dolan-versus-City Hall flashpoint. Mamdani had framed the Finals as a historic moment for New York, but Dolan’s response suggested he did not see the mayor as part of the true Knicks crowd.
James Dolan says he loves Donald Trump after Madison Square Garden boos
Dolan was far warmer when the topic turned to Trump, who attended Game 3 after being invited by the Knicks owner and watched from a suite during the loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
“I think he’s a great guy. I love him,” Dolan stated.
Dolan also described hosting the president as a huge honor and defended Trump as a real Knicks fan. He even pushed back on claims that Trump fell asleep during the game, a storyline that spread after cameras showed him sitting inside the Garden.
Trump’s appearance was met with a mixed reaction inside MSG, but the boos were loud enough to become one of the biggest stories of Game 3. His visit also brought heightened security and extra attention around an already emotional Finals night.
Dolan’s comments make clear where he stands. He rejected Mamdani’s Knicks standing, embraced Trump’s presence, and turned the owner’s suite into another headline during New York’s chase for a championship.
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