New York Knicks: James Dolan’s most embarrassing PR moments

James Dolan embarrassing moments: Refusing to issue a statement about police brutality

James Dolan’s latest public relations disaster comes at a time when businesses, athletes, professional sports teams, and individuals are using their platforms in amazing ways to shine a light on social injustices in this country.

The Knicks had an opportunity to act as leaders in the NBA discussion about racism and how to promote positive change by pointing to their impressive record of hiring African Americans in high-ranking positions throughout the organization. Last season, they became the first team in the league to have a black president, general manager, and head coach. They recently hired businessman Steve Stoute as an influential voice to strengthen their brand, particularly among athletes.

But instead of celebrating their diversity and issuing a statement to condemn racism, as nearly other team in the NBA did before them, they turned the whole situation into a PR disaster.

First, there was silence. Then there were an internal email that Dolan sent to his employees explaining the silence. And then another leaked email. And then finally a bland statement promoting “positive change” that looked like it was written in the time it took for a PR member to ride the elevator to Mr. Dolan’s office.

Whether you believe the Knicks were right or wrong for waiting to release a statement, from a PR perspective, it turned into a complete embarrassment for the franchise.

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Former NBA players Caron Butler and Kendrick Perkins have already spoken out against the Knicks poor response. An NBA insider says it is “devastating” to their hopes of recruiting future players. It was just another example of how Dolan refuses to listen to the PR staff assembled around him in making public-facing decisions that ultimately cast a dark shadow over an already beleaguered ownership tenure.