James Dolan's Unlikely Double Win: Knicks in the NBA Finals and Sphere Dominates Live Music

James Dolan, the 71-year-old billionaire owner who has presided over the New York Knicks since 1999, is suddenly sitting atop two massive triumphs after decades of failure and feuding. His $2.3 billion Sphere venue in Las Vegas — which ran $1 billion over budget and seemed headed for disaster when it opened in 2023 — became the highest-grossing arena in the world in 2024 according to live music tracker Pollstar. And on Wednesday night, his Knicks will play their first NBA Finals game in 27 years, having swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in the conference round.

The Dolan saga is one of the most improbable redemption arcs in American sports ownership. Over a 19-year stretch, the Knicks endured 16 losing seasons while Madison Square Garden crowds serenaded their owner with chants of 'Sell the team.' His big-bet hires flamed out spectacularly — Isiah Thomas never won a playoff game and was found liable in a sexual harassment suit costing MSG over $11 million, while Phil Jackson's tenure as team president produced zero playoff victories. Off the court, Dolan attempted to audit NBA finances, triggering a years-long silent feud with commissioner David Stern, and in 2023 took the rare step of suing the Toronto Raptors, alleging they stole confidential files from the Knicks' internal system.

The Knicks' turnaround traces directly to Dolan doing something out of character: stepping back. In 2020, he hired former super-agent Leon Rose as team president, who methodically built a roster of role players, defenders, and underdogs rather than chasing faded stars for one last payday. Coach Mike Brown credits Dolan for being challenging but not overbearing — describing him as rarely around. The result has been a steady march through the playoffs, advancing one round farther each postseason until this year's Finals run, which featured what's described as the biggest string of blowouts in playoff history.

On the entertainment side, Sphere's turnaround has been equally striking. After its budget ballooned to $2.3 billion, the LED-covered dome found its footing with residencies from acts including the Eagles, Backstreet Boys, and Phish, and a $100 million AI-enhanced immersive reimagining of 'The Wizard of Oz' — at whose premiere Dolan showed up in an emerald green suit and top hat. Sphere Entertainment is already planning new venues in Abu Dhabi and National Harbor, Maryland. The Knicks, meanwhile, sit four wins away from their first NBA championship since 1973.