The New York Knicks are finally back on top of the basketball world. After decades of heartbreak, near misses, and frustrated fan bases, the Knicks captured their first NBA championship since 1973 by defeating the San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 NBA Finals. New York finished the regular season with a 53-29 record, earned the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, and then went on one of the most dominant playoff runs the franchise has ever seen.
Now, just days after the championship celebration began, an unusual story has emerged from behind the scenes. According to NBA Central on X via Polymarket Hoops, Knicks owner James Dolan reportedly made a very unusual request to players before the postseason started. His message? Avoid sex and any other forms of intercourse for the next 10 weeks.
MORE: New York Knicks are your 2026 NBA Finals Champions
A Strange Request That Got Attention
Professional athletes have long been surrounded by myths and theories regarding preparation, focus, and performance. While some coaches and organizations have embraced unconventional methods over the years, Dolan’s reported request certainly ranks among the more surprising ones.
Whether players actually followed the suggestion is anyone’s guess. What cannot be debated, however, are the results.
Knicks Dominated the Playoffs
New York opened the postseason by defeating the Atlanta Hawks in six games, winning the final three contests of the series to advance. From there, the Knicks took complete control.
They swept the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round before doing the exact same thing to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Suddenly, New York was headed to its first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.
The championship round proved just as memorable. The Knicks won three of the first four games against San Antonio, highlighted by an incredible Game 4 comeback that became the largest comeback in NBA Finals history.
The Championship Moment
Game 5 provided one final dramatic chapter. Facing another large deficit, the Knicks rallied once again, completing a second straight stunning comeback to defeat the Spurs and secure the NBA title.
Was Dolan’s unusual request responsible for the historic run? Probably not. But after ending a 53-year championship drought, Knicks fans probably aren’t questioning anything that happened along the way.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —
About the Author
