Isiah Thomas, who controversially ran the New York Knicks’ front office and coached the team in the mid-2000s, has returned to the franchise as a member of its new board of directors.
The New York Knicks are set to separate from their sibling franchise following a major move by their ownership group.
On Wednesday, MSG Sports formally announced that the Knicks and the New York Rangers of the NHL will become separate publicly traded companies after the company’s board of directors approved the move.
The separation has been under consideration since earlier this year. Still, James Dolan will remain the executive chairman and CEO of both companies following the split.
Isiah Thomas rejoins Knicks in a corporate role
MSG Sports will now become MSG Knickerbockers Corp., which will own the Knicks and their G League affiliate, the Westchester Knicks.
Meanwhile, MSG Rangers Corp. will oversee the New York Rangers, the MSG training facility, and the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers’ AHL affiliate.
As such, an intriguing addition to the Knicks’ board of directors is Isiah Thomas, the former team president and head coach of the franchise from 2003 to 2008.
Isiah Thomas’ controversial time with the Knicks
While Isiah Thomas’ role is strictly corporate and does not give him any control over basketball operations, his return to the New York Knicks marks his first official tie to the franchise since his disastrous stint.
The NBA legend’s previous run with the Knicks was one of the darkest periods in the franchise’s history. Under Thomas’ leadership, New York struggled with a poorly managed payroll and handed out massive contracts to unproven players, while the team failed to become a serious contender.
His tenure also became the center of a major legal scandal when former Knicks executive Anucha Browne Sanders filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Thomas and Madison Square Garden, which was settled for $11.5 million.
Over Thomas’ five-year run as the Knicks’ team president and head coach, New York endured a dreadful 112–216 record, which is a far cry from the franchise’s current standing as the reigning NBA champions heading into the upcoming season.
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