James Dolan Calls For ‘Financial Transparency’ In NBA’s League Office

James Dolan has called for a resolution to be voted on at this month’s Board of Governors meetings that asks for clearer accounting of the NBA’s finances, according to a letter received by the league office and the rest of the Board of Governors. Dolan and the Knicks have repeatedly questioned the league office on a variety of topics dating back multiple years. The proposed resolution would begin with the 2025-26 NBA fiscal year, and would ask the league to both “adopt a zero-based method of budgeting operating costs, headcount, and capital expenditures for all League and Affiliate League operations” and “adopt a process to present and distribute the League’s annual proposed budgets inclusive of all underlying account detail summarized by department and type of expense, headcount, and fully allocated costs against each League revenue stream.”In the letter, which was co-signed by both Dolan and the team’s alternate governor, Madison Square Garden chief operating officer Jamaal Lesane, the Knicks detail how the league’s operating budget rose nearly 8% from the year before, and pointed out specific increases in a variety of areas, as well as an increase in “League office headcount” by over 800 people.”Despite the League’s swelling costs and headcount, the budget materials provided by the League during its annual September budget review are limited in scope,” the letter said. “Accordingly, to improve the League’s financial transparency and operating efficiency, the Knicks propose that the League adopts a zero-based method of budgeting operating costs, capital expenditures, and headcount for all League operations and initiatives (including Affiliate Leagues, such as the Basketball Africa League, WNBA, and G League).
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