Knicks owner James Dolan reportedly used to annoy players by playing his guitar on team flights

Scott Davis

December 17, 2018 5:28 PM

james dolan knicks

Former coaches and players for the New York Knicks claimed team owner James Dolan used to play his guitar on the team plane.
The guitar-playing, particularly after losses, bothered players.
Dolan denied the accusations.
Dolan is the singer of the blues band JD and the Straight Shot and has referenced and sang about the Knicks before.

In recent years, the New York Knicks owner James Dolan has taken a step back from handling the team and focused more on his music career.

However, according to a profile of Dolan by ESPN's Ian O'Connor , Dolan's two interests used to collide, sometimes to the chagrin of Knicks players.

According to O'Connor, Dolan used to play his guitar on the team plane, even after losses, bothering players and coaches.

"It was the last thing the players and coaches wanted to hear," a Knicks source told O'Connor. "I just remember the looks on their faces."

Dolan denied the accusations, calling them "somebody's fantasy."

Dolan is the singer of his blues band JD and the Straight Shot, and his two worlds have intersected before. Dolan once invited Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony on stage at a charity concert to play kazoos . He's also produced Knicks-themed songs with his band one about "fixing" the Knicks , and another for Deadspin about how owning the Knicks is a "living hell."

He told O'Connor that he doesn't consider owning the team a "living hell," saying that everyone is frustrated when the team doesn't do well.