The New York Knicks made history by defeating the San Antonio Spurs in five games to win the franchise’s first NBA championship since 1973.
Mikal Bridges has now opened up about an unusual rule put in place by Knicks owner James Dolan that proved crucial to their success.
Mikal Bridges Reveals Knicks Owner James Dolan’s Unusual Request During NBA Finals Run
After the Knicks clinched the NBA championship, insider Ian Begley revealed an interesting detail from when Dolan addressed his team prior to the playoffs.
“He talked to the players about the opportunity ahead of them, the importance of sacrificing for the next 10 weeks,” Begley wrote. “He jokingly asked the players to avoid fornication during the postseason.”
This revelation prompted some strong reactions from the NBA world, and now Bridges has confirmed that Dolan made this odd request.
The 29-year-old also jokingly urged the Knicks owner to build a practice facility closer to the city. The Knicks’ current training center is based in Westchester County, about 30 miles or an hour’s drive away from Madison Square Garden.
“He brought ni***s in and said, ‘Ten weeks! Don’t have any s*x. Lock in!’ Ni**a’s a savage. He’s a savage! He could be a bigger savage if he built a practice facility in the city. But he’s still a savage,” Bridges said.
Mikal addressing the 10 weeks no sex rule Dolan made 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/E0osLNpAIE
— amandaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa (@outmycoma) June 15, 2026
While Begley made it sound like Dolan’s request was made “jokingly,” Bridges made it sound like the Knicks owner wasn’t kidding when he asked his players to practice abstinence. It’s worth noting that some boxers follow the same approach in the lead-up to a big fight, so perhaps that is where Dolan got the idea.
Bridges played a key role in the Knicks’ championship run, starting 19 playoff games and averaging 13.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and a steal.
The 6-foot-6 wing, who arrived in New York via a trade with the Brooklyn Nets, delivered an impressive performance in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, scoring 20 points, 6 assists, and 6 rebounds to help the Knicks claim a vital 105-104 win on the road.
This season, Bridges also continued his remarkable streak of playing in all 82 regular-season games.
His former Villanova Wildcats teammate, Jalen Brunson, was the leading scorer in the NBA Finals, averaging 32.6 points, 4.6 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game en route to winning the Finals MVP award.
With their triumph in the 2026 NBA Finals, Bridges, Brunson, and Josh Hart became the first trio of teammates in history to win both the NCAA Tournament and the NBA championship together.
