Do you approve or disapprove of the job James Dolan has done as owner?
There is somewhat of baseline for this question. When we asked in October whether you thought Dolan had done a good job as the team’s owner, just 6 percent said yes and 91.8 percent said no. In the time since, Knicks fans have become even less approving of his stewardship, with
95.8 percent of respondents this time saying they don’t approve of the job Dolan has done as owner. This might not be that surprising. There have been a number of indicators that Knicks are not happy with Dolan — the loud
“Sell the team” chant at Madison Square Garden in late January is just one.
What is your outlook for the Knicks’ future?
Pessimistic - 41.2%
Unsure - 32.9%
Optimistic - 25.9
Considering how much upheaval the Knicks have had in the last few months, this could’ve gone either way. As of now, a plurality of Knicks fans are pessimistic about the Knicks future. Maybe that’s because of seven straight losing seasons and the upheaval mentioned before. There’s also a large segment that isn’t sure of how to feel about the future of the Knicks, which is also understandable with a new team president without any track record in the position.
What was your reaction to the Knicks hiring Leon Rose as team president?
Unsure - 56.9%
Liked it. Good hire. - 30.1%
Didn't Like it. - 13%
What happens when the Knicks hire someone with no experience as a team president or in a front office to that position? Knicks fans seem uncertain how to feel about that move. Roughly 57 percent of people we surveyed don’t have a distinct positive or negative opinion about Rose’s hire — which is rare, since Knicks fans have an opinion on everything. Of the people who do have an opinion, they liked the hire by more than a two-to-one margin.
Should Mike Miller remain the Knicks head coach next season?
No - 56.8%
Yes - 43.2%
Miller has done a good job since taking over as the Knicks interim coach. The former career college coach has gone 17-27 as Knicks coach, leading them to the 10th-best record in the East in that time. His job, however, is not assured for next season. While a significant portion of Knicks fans who responded think he should remain the head coach for the 2020-21 season, the majority say the Knicks need someone else.
If Mike Miller isn’t the Knicks coach, who do you want as the next Knicks coach?
Kenny Atkinson - 57.9%
JVG - 11%
Becky Hammon - 8.9%
Mark Jackson - Not Shown
Other - Not Shown
Tom Thibodeau - Not Shown (these last three all have a similar chunk of the pie)
J Kidd - Not Shown (smallest result by far)
Rose may have a short or long search for the next coach if he doesn’t keep Miller, but he could also just ask the one-party search committee that is the Knicks fan base. Those who responded to our survey are pretty united on who the next Knicks coach should be: Kenny Atkinson. Despite seven options, about 58 percent said the former Nets coach (as of a month ago) should be next guy on the sidelines for the Knicks. It’s a pretty reasonable thought. Atkinson earned praise for his player development and culture-building in Brooklyn, and the Knicks needs that in droves. Former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy was the next most popular choice, then Spurs assistant Becky Hammon. Surprisingly, there doesn’t seem to be much desire for Tom Thibodeau, despite his track record.
Which is the next season the Knicks will reach the playoffs?
2022-2023 - 35%
2021-2022 - 28.8%
2024-2025 - 17.8%
2023-2024 - 16%
2021-2022 - Not shown too small
This is where it gets interesting. We have no idea what Rose is planning for the Knicks as the new head of basketball ops. Maybe he wants to take it slow. Maybe he wants to compete for the playoffs next season. Insert shrug emoji here. The plurality of Knicks fans surveyed here think the playoffs aren’t happening until the spring of 2023, which would mean that the franchise’s postseason-less streak extends to nine before playing playoff basketball again. One out of every 40 Knicks fan we asked (2.4 percent) thinks the Knicks will be a playoff team next season. About 18 percent of voters don’t expect the playoffs until the 2024-25 season, which is very far away.