NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 18: James Dolan, Executive Chairman of Madison Square Garden, answers questions during the press conference to introduce Phil Jackson as President of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 18, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)The NBA has been on the front lines in terms of sports as they’ve been impacted by COVID-19. Now, New York Knicks owner James Dolan has reportedly tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
The 64-year old executive runs the beloved NBA franchise, as well as the New York Rangers, and runs the Madison Square Garden Company. The NBA shut down play two weeks ago, after Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz tested positive. A number of others players have done the same in the weeks since, including Gobert’s teammate Donovan Mitchell and Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant.
“The Madison Square Garden Company Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jim Dolan has tested positive for coronavirus,” the Knicks PR Twitter account wrote in a new post, confirming the report. “He has been in self-isolation and is experiencing little to no symptoms. He continues to oversee business operations.”
Stadium’s Shams Charania was the first to break the news. Moments later, the Knicks confirmed as much. Luckily, it doesn’t sound serious as of now.
New York Knicks owner James Dolan has tested positive for coronavirus.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 29, 2020
This, of course, is no laughing matter, as disliked Dolan is among Knicks fans. Just a few weeks ago, he was embroiled in yet another scandal, spurring from allegations of mistreatment by team superfan Spike Lee.
He has also done some definite positive things around this current coronavirus outbreak.
A note here that Dolan, who has done some wildly and justifiably unpopular things, not only kept everybody at MSG on the payroll through May but offered up MSG as a coronavirus-related medical facility (and it may yet be needed).
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) March 29, 2020
The positive test was announced just days after James Dolan’s company sold The Forum in Los Angeles to Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, ending a long standoff between the two billionaire NBA owners. He has clearly still been involved in the business in recent days.
Hopefully he makes a full recovery.
