Skip to content

Kanter defends Dolan amid Knicks' struggles: He has 'nothing to do with it'

Maddie Meyer / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Due to the Knicks' ineptitude under his leadership, fans have criticized James Dolan throughout the twenty-plus years he's owned the team.

However, Enes Kanter, one of Dolan's former players and a current Boston Celtics center, believes that continuing to pin blame on Dolan is unfair.

"I will say this, it's terrible that they blame on this guy (Dolan) every time," Kanter said following Boston's 113-104 win over the Knicks on Sunday, according to The Athletic's Mike Vorkunov.

"I feel that he had nothing to do with it. You just got to go out there and play basketball. He cannot just push you to go out there and play basketball. I feel like people have put blame on him and people are wrong," Kanter added.

Kanter defending Dolan is somewhat odd after the big man acknowledged in September that some free agents don't go to New York because of ownership.

He told Howard Beck during an appearance on The Full 48 podcast that teammates and players on other teams have praised the city, Madison Square Garden, and everything about the club except Dolan.

"They would just keep saying, 'But the ownership,'" Kanter told Beck.

That echoes a sentiment Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant shares. He blamed the Knicks' struggles in free agency on the team's brand that's "not as cool as" others.

It appears Kanter's comments to Beck didn't rub Dolan the wrong way, with the 27-year-old acknowledging the pair exchange texts and "are buddies now."

"I feel like he's a really good dude," Kanter said.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox