Professional Basketball Writers Association slams Knicks for Daily News ban

The New York Knicks have found the New York Daily News coverage of the team to be too critical, which led to journalists from the paper to be banned from covering the team’s post-draft press conference on Friday. Indications are that this was at the direction of owner James Dolan, as he has slammed the paper and barred reporters before.

The outcry was swift, and on Saturday, the Professional Basketball Writers Association was harshly critical of the franchise for its decision.

“The New York Knicks’ decision to ban New York Daily News journalists from RJ Barrett’s and Ignas Brazdeikis’ introductory news conference Friday was unprofessional and unacceptable,” the organization said in a statement. “James Dolan, the owner of the Knicks franchise, previously has said that barring Daily News employees from media availabilities sends the Daily News ‘a message.’ In reality, the only message he is sending is that he is a bully who retaliates against legitimate news outlets that publish content he dislikes. Members of the Professional Basketball Writers Association support our Daily News colleagues, and we condemn the Knicks’ attempts to hinder journalists’ ability to do their jobs and inform the public.”

It’s no secret that Dolan is famously sensitive to criticism of his ownership. All it ever does is bring him bad publicity and make him look like a bully.

The Knicks won 17 games in 2018-19 and haven’t had a winning season since 2012-13, which is also the last time they made the playoffs. They’ve won just one playoff series since reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in 2000. If Dolan hates the criticism so much, he should stop putting a terrible product on the floor and build a better team.