New York Knicks owner James Dolan drew widespread attention when he requested that players abstain from intimacy during their recent championship run, a guideline that Jordyn Woods has admitted she did not follow.
Woods, the fiancée of Knicks star Karl Anthony Towns, publicly addressed the viral rumor during an appearance on NBC. Discussing the owner’s lighthearted post-season directive to the team, Woods shared her perspective on the situation.
“I heard about it and I can’t say that I abided by it,” Woods stated during her interview, adding that Dolan really wanted them to win.
Why Did Knicks Owner Impose a “No Intimacy” Rule?
The original advice came during a 15-minute speech Dolan delivered to the roster on April 3, with 5 games remaining in the regular season. Excerpts of the meeting were recently published on the Roommates Show podcast, hosted by New York guards Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart.
In the audio, Dolan compared the team to ancient Spartans and facetiously suggested a 10-week ban on sex to gain a competitive edge on the court. He urged the athletes to have serious conversations with their significant others regarding the immense sacrifices required to secure a title, though he advised them not to explicitly blame him for the request.
“I don’t know if you understand what it would mean for you to win a championship this year. … It would be life-changing,” he said. “It will stick with you the rest of your lives, and if you don’t win, you’ll be thinking about it the rest of your lives.”
“Don’t tell [your wives and girlfriends] you’re not going to have sex, and don’t tell them it was my idea. But let them know what this is going to be like … and how they’re going to have to sacrifice, too.”
Towns previously mentioned the speech during an appearance on The Howard Stern Show, noting that his fiancée was not a fan of the owner’s logic when he first shared the details at home.
Head coach Mike Brown also reacted to the audio after it leaked, admitting to reporters that he had no intention of implementing such strict abstinence guidelines within his own household.
This hilarious off-court narrative added an unexpected layer of entertainment to a historic season for the franchise, which culminated in New York defeating the San Antonio Spurs to capture its first NBA championship in 53 years.
Fans and media continue to follow the post-championship celebrations after the team carried out a victory parade.
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