In a turn of events that could mend fences, the Knicks’ recent winning streak appears to be easing tensions between Madison Square Garden’s chief, James Dolan, and the team’s iconic superfan, Spike Lee.
Historically, Dolan and Lee, the acclaimed director of “Do The Right Thing,” have had a rocky relationship. This friction reached a peak in 2020 when Lee accused the wealthy team owner of “harassing” him.
However, sources reveal that Dolan made a notable effort to include Lee in the team’s celebrations following their Game 4 victory in Cleveland. This win secured the Knicks a spot in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.
Insiders report that after the game, the court was marked with orange tape, setting the stage for the presentation of the Eastern Conference Championship trophy.
We’re told that after the final buzzer, orange tape was put down on the court while the team was presented with the Eastern Conference Championship trophy.
But we hear when Dolan spotted Lee standing outside of the area, he went over and brought the Oscar- winner across the thin orange line.
Photos show the pair embracing in the afterglow of the win.
A spokesperson for Dolan confirms, “There was a taped off area for players and their families, back office people of the Knicks” and other VIPs.
“Jim waved Spike Lee in and invited him to join the celebration and enjoy the historic win,” the spokesperson told Page Six.
Other celebs at the game included Timothee Chalamet and girlfriend Kylie Jenner, Ben Stiller, Tracy Morgan, Fat Joe, Patrick Ewing and Walt “Clyde” Frazier.
A feud erupted between Dolan and Lee in 2020 after Lee was stopped at the media and employee entrance at West 33rd Street and asked to enter the VIP entrance. Lee claimed he had been using that entrance for 30 years and told ESPN’s “First Take,” “I’m being harassed by James Dolan. I don’t know why.”
A Knicks spokesperson claimed at the time that he had been asked repeatedly not to use that entrance.
“The idea that Spike Lee is a victim because we have repeatedly asked him to not use our employee entrance and instead use a dedicated V.I.P. entrance — which is used by every other celebrity who enters The Garden — is laughable,” a Knicks spokesperson said at the time.
Lee shot back, “What’s laughable is how the Knicks are the laughingstock of the league. This press release, which is upsetting me, is an unmitigated, baldfaced lie. . . That they say that they had repeatedly asked me not to use the employee entrance. That is a lie.”
The pair were photographed shortly after shaking hands at a game, which became it’s own brouhaha with Lee calling it a “set-up photo op.” He also said he wanted the billionaire to sell the team.
Lee also critized Dolan for his handling of an incident in which Charles Oakley was dragged out of the arena and arrested after scuffling with MSG security guards at a game on Feb. 8, 2017. Oakley was banned.