The New York Knicks owner James Dolan has been a controversial figure since he inherited the team from his father in 1999. Time and again, Dolan’s management skills have been questioned by many due to the Knicks’ poor performance since he took over. The criticisms only got stronger when the team failed to make it to the playoffs for eight straight seasons. Despite fans’ strong objection toward Dolan’s ownership, the Madison Square Garden CEO has continued managing the Knicks and will seemingly continue to do so for only one reason.

Along with the New York Knicks, billionaire James Dolan also owns the New York Rangers, WNBA’s New York Liberty, and the Hartford Wolf Pack. After facing several controversies, including the George Floyd issue, during his tenure as Knicks owner, Dolan has found himself in yet another pickle making him the least favorite NBA team owner yet again.

NBA fans slam Knicks owner James Dolan for his decision

James Dolan recently gained attention when he defended his decision of using facial recognition technology. He made matters worse when his decision to not sell the New York Knicks earned him a spot on the NBA fans’ bad books. During an interview with WFAN Sports Radio, Dolan stated that he is not willing to sell the team yet and in case such an event occurs in the future, then the ownership will be passed down to someone from the family itself.

“I have no plans whatsoever to sell at this point. I’m not retiring any time soon. It’s a family-controlled asset, so someone in the family will own it,” the Knicks owner said. Dolan has six sons, three of whom are members of the Board of Directors for MSG Sports. As of now, there are no reports of Dolan’s successor in case he decides to step down from the position in the future. NBA fans did not take the news well and expressed their displeasure towards the billion-dollar team owner. Below are a few of the tweets.

https://twitter.com/Jimmyjoejerkic/status/1619069007147200512?s=20&t=WPXcHlcr1JtVAFbfuXEGcA

https://twitter.com/ErR0rcode18/status/1619067324606328834?s=20&t=y8PY0jHDZVe880vp-ioC7A

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James Dolan won’t back down from using facial recognition technology

James Dolan has also been heavily criticized for his use of facial recognition technology at Madison Square Garden. During an interview on Fox’s Good Day New York, Dolan clarified that the policy was adopted to ensure no lawyers, who have sued Dolan or his establishments, could access entry into the arena without checking their identity.

He said, “It?s not only business. If you?ve been sued you know that it?s a personal thing. At Madison Square Garden, if you?re suing us, we?re just asking you: ‘Please don?t come until you?re done with your argument’. And yes, we?re using facial recognition to enforce that.”

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While many have opposed his methods, it seems like Dolan is adamant about his decision and will continue to remain so.