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Spike Lee Claims James Dolan Handshake Photo Was a 'Setup' by Knicks in Wild Text Message

By Will Coleman

Director and Knicks fan Spike Lee tries to make sense of his Madison Square Garden altercation of text with New York Times contributor Sopan Deb.
Director and Knicks fan Spike Lee tries to make sense of his Madison Square Garden altercation of text with New York Times contributor Sopan Deb. /

After the New York Knicks released a statement in response to Spike Lee's altercation at Madison Square Garden Monday night, the famed director and producer is at it again, claiming executives of his beloved basketball team are in the wrong.

Lee, who frequently attends Knicks game and watches from the same court-side seat, was asked to leave the Garden after entering the arena through the employee/media entrance and scanning his ticket as he normally does. The 62-year-old eventually made it to his seat, but not before Knicks owner James Dolan confronted him beside the court. A photo surfaced of Lee and Dolan shaking hands that would suggest they came to a mutual understanding, but Lee is insisting it was a setup.

Lee made it clear that he's done attending Knicks games for the year, and he's already gotten his season tickets off his hands. He's joked about switching allegiances to the Brooklyn Nets, but only as way of demonstrating his anger and frustration with the situation.

The Knicks struggle enough as a basketball team, but this is a downright bad look for them. Lee has stuck with the franchise over the years through thick and thin, easily their most loyal public fan. What does putting this much time and energy into it say about the Knicks?

Without Lee scheduled to return to MSG for a Knicks game until next season, this debacle is bound to die down. But if issues persist between Lee and the team's management in the future, the black eye that is the New York Knicks will continue to swell.