Enes Kanter blamed New York Knicks ownership for players not willing to sign with the team.
The debate on if the New York Knicks lost the 2019 offseason will continue into the regular season. Not signing the biggest names, despite persistent rumors of their inevitable arrival, made for a continuous summer storyline. Now, players like Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving will benefit the Brooklyn Nets and Kawhi Leonard will lead the Los Angeles Clippers to title contention.
Long before free agency, Knicks owner James Dolan said he knew players wanted to play for his team. He praised New York as the “mecca of basketball” and said the Knicks will have a “very successful offseason.” The team signed seven players, so maybe that fulfilled these mid-March words, but not in public perception.
If Dolan meant star players, then it created a disappointing offseason because big names chose to play in Brooklyn, not Manhattan, and other high-profile destinations.
On The Full 48 podcast (h/t The Big Lead), Enes Kanter, fresh off winning a WWE title, said players like the idea of playing for New York, but have one problem: the ownership:
"“Not many people know that, but players talk. From different teams, they talk. I’m not blaming anybody. I had an amazing time with the Knicks. But other teammates that I talked to or if they’re on different teams, they always said, ‘Amazing city, MSG is amazing everything is so good, but the ownership.’ They would just keep saying, ‘But the ownership.’ … Some of the players I guess are just scared to come here and don’t even want to deal with that.”"
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Of course, Kanter did not name specific outside players who thought this; however, his words are still interesting, given the expectations the Knicks once had for free agency and previous controversy involving Dolan.
If ownership is a drawback, then it supersedes the other aspects of the Knicks Kanter noted. The spotlight hosts appeal and Madison Square Garden is an arena landmark, whether to play in or attend. If that is not enough, this organization’s image may indeed sit behind the Nets, who are trending up for their free-agent additions and the success built in 2018-19.
Kanter has also not shied away from taking jabs, direct or indirectly at the Knicks. Before that, he had a messy divorce with the team due to not starting and losing his rotation spot to the “developmental” season’s circumstances. The outspokenness has been persistent and playing for the Boston Celtics, with the Knicks schedule four times this season, will continue that.
This organization does have on-court work to do to continue rebuilding its image. Winning cures all, and while the playoffs may be a stretch, digging out of a 17-win hole to show progress could push ownership doubts aside and make this an appealing team to join. It is a process, and the New York Knicks are embarking on a slow, necessary path.