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Dolan asked for 10-week sacrifice in April speech

ESPN · Jun 16, 2026, 1:31 AM

Key takeaways

  • The video, released Monday by Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart's podcast "Roommates Show", was from April 3, with five games left in the regular season.
  • "This team can win it all," Dolan said, holding a piece of paper that looked like notes for a prepared speech.
  • "It will stick with you for the rest of your lives, and if you don't win it, you'll be thinking about it the rest of your lives, and so will I."

Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.

New York Knicks owner James Dolan delivered an impassioned speech in front of his team before the playoffs, imploring the players to seize the opportunity and asking that they make certain sacrifices to achieve their goal of winning a championship.

The video, released Monday by Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart's podcast "Roommates Show", was from April 3, with five games left in the regular season. The Knicks won the next four regular-season games before sitting their starters for the last game. They then went 16-3 in the playoffs, including a record-13 game winning streak, and beat the San Antonio Spurs in five games for their first title since 1973.

"This team can win it all," Dolan said, holding a piece of paper that looked like notes for a prepared speech. "I don't know if you understand what it would mean for you to win the championship this year ... it would be life-changing for all of you.

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