1. After the Knicks defeated the Spurs on Saturday night to become NBA champions, video came out of owner James Dolan giving a pump-up speech to the team before a shootaround on April 3, shortly before the playoffs began.
Dolan’s main theme to the New York players was that they needed to sacrifice EVERYTHING for the next 10 weeks in order to win the NBA title.
The owner even suggested the players give up sex during the postseason so they could keep an edge.
“I had this idea that maybe you should give up sex for the next 10 weeks,” said Dolan. “You don’t have to give up sex for the next 10 weeks, but, like the Spartans, you know what Spartans are? They denied themselves, right, so that they can have an edge. Get the edge.
“Go home, talk to your wives and tell them—don’t tell them you’re not gonna have sex and don’t tell ’em it was my idea—but let them know what this is gonna be like, what the commitment is gonna be like, and how they’re gonna have to sacrifice, too. Those concerns at home, they can’t come on the court. They can’t come into the practice. For the next 10 weeks, it’s gotta be all about us and about how we play. It’s not who we play, it’s how we play because I believe this team can beat ANYBODY in the NBA.”
The NSFW sacrifice James Dolan joked about with players https://t.co/oPW75HfQu9 pic.twitter.com/6ho5WFDMRA
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) June 15, 2026
To no surprise at all, this topic came up Tuesday morning when Karl-Anthony Towns joined The Howard Stern Show on SiriusXM for an interview.
Stern: Karl, when James Dolan, he was joking around, he told you guys to avoid sex during the postseason. He didn’t want you guys draining your energy. There’s always that myth in sports, your energy will be drained. Did you take that seriously because I know you’re engaged. Congratulations. When is the wedding and you’re probably gonna want to invite me?
Towns: We’re trying to figure out [a date] now. We actually have the ring in hand, so we’re gonna sit down after the parade. I can tell you right now there’s been no time to even think right. I’m a happily engaged man. I would definitely say when I came home and told my fiancé what he said, she didn’t like to hear that one.
Stern: You ignored James Dolan and you said, listen honey, I am going to deliver the goods. Is that correct?
Towns: [Laughing] I would say she’s very happy.
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3. During that interview with Stern, Towns was asked if Victor Wembanyama congratulated him or embraced him on the court after Game 5. Towns, clearly not wanting to get involved in any sort of controversy, said that he was busy celebrating so he didn’t pay attention to Wembanyama. But we all know Wembanyama went right to the locker room without shaking hands or congratulating the Knicks. It’s amazing how much damage Wemby did to his reputation during the this postseason. The evidence, as seen below, is damning.
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6. This week’s SI Media Podcast With Jimmy Traina will be out earlier than usual because the guest is Mike Breen. Instead of a Thursday release, the podcast will come out some time Tuesday, so make sure you follow me on social media or subscribe to the podcast so you get it the minute it’s live.
If you missed any recent episodes, make sure to catch up. Recent episodes have featured:
ESPN’s Kevin Clark:
Sports Business Journal’s Austin Karp:
Inside the NBA’s Charles Barkley:
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