Leon Rose officially named Knicks president
Knicks president Leon Rose watches his team play against the Rockets during the first half at Madison Square Garden on Monday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
After nearly a month of preparation for this day, Leon Rose officially was introduced as president of the Knicks on Monday.
Rose, the longtime power player as an agent for some of the NBA’s most prominent players, first with his own agency and then as one of the leaders of Creative Artists Agency’s NBA division, takes over for Steve Mills, who was removed from his post Feb. 4. Mills had a long and tumultuous tenure in various roles for the team, including a six-year run as president in which the Knicks compiled the worst record in the league.
“We are pleased to welcome Leon to the New York Knicks as team president, and believe he is the right leader to build a winning organization for our fans,” Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan said in a statement. “Leon is one of the most respected executives in professional basketball, with decades of experience successfully working with NBA players and team management in all facets of the game. We are confident he brings the right combination of expertise and relationships to ensure the long-term success of our franchise.”
In his role as president, Rose will oversee all basketball operations and personnel for the team. Rose spoke with the team and coaching staff at the morning shootaround and made the rounds courtside at Madison Square Garden before Monday night’s game against the Rockets, greeting folks just as he had in his time as an agent — other than he was dressed a little more formally, even if he still had a pair of shiny new sneakers on.
Rose opted not to hold a news conference Monday, wanting to acclimate himself to the organization before speaking.
“Nothing about this is easy, or quick, so I ask for your continued patience,” Rose wrote in a letter to season-ticket holders. “What I promise you in return is that I will be honest and forthright. We will develop a plan that makes sense, both to jump start our short-term growth and ensure our long-term success.”
The Knicks did not publicly acknowledge the decision at the time, but two days after Mills’ removal, Rose agreed to change lanes on his career and take on the challenge of fixing the franchise, which is finishing out a seventh consecutive losing season and has won only one playoff series since 2000.
Rose is the third executive to take over in March for the Knicks in recent years, joining Donnie Walsh and Phil Jackson, and it will give him a head start on efforts to make over the team.
“To be successful in the NBA, you need the best talent, a tireless work ethic, a winning culture and a total commitment to the development of both the individual and the team,” Rose wrote. “I know that the ability to forge solid, productive relationships is what binds all that together. For the remainder of this season, I will work tirelessly behind the scenes while evaluating every aspect of the organization.
“Our team has young talent, significant future assets (including seven first-round picks over the next four years) and an ample amount of financial flexibility in the coming years. Everyone — from ownership to athletes, to staff and especially our fans — wants this team to be a winner. We will have all the resources necessary to create a great organization — one that supports our efforts to build a winning culture and gives Knicks fans, and the city of New York, the team you deserve.”
He inherits a team that is 19-42 after Monday night’s 125-123 win over the Rockets. The Knicks were 4-18 when they dismissed coach David Fizdale, with Mike Miller named as interim coach. Steve Stoute, brought on to help with a rebranding of the franchise, appeared on ESPN last month and announced the obvious, that the team will be bringing in a new coach.
Other than Mills, the front office, including general manager Scott Perry, has remained in place, navigating the Feb. 6 trade deadline and continuing to prepare for the summer, when the Knicks will have an important draft. They almost certainly will have a lottery pick of their own and also have the Clippers’ first-round pick and the Hornets’ second-round pick, meaning they likely will have three picks among the top 40 selections.
“[Rose has] been extremely successful throughout his career as an agent,” said Julius Randle, one of two Knicks players, along with Frank Ntilikina, who has been a CAA client. “He established great relationships with teams and players. And has done very well for players. Who better to run the show than Leon?
“He had Carmelo Anthony, a great player here. The success Melo had. The success he’s had with all his clients. It does [translate from agent to executive],’’ said Randle, noting Rose’s “great relationships’’ with players and other teams. “So he’s coming in as a very well-respected individual.”
The current roster could be in flux before even considering trades. Mills and Perry signed seven free agents last summer, and six of them (replacing Marcus Morris with Moe Harkless, whose expiring contracts were traded at the deadline) have contracts that are expiring or hold minimal guarantees with team options for next season.
To help his decision-making, Rose likely will lean more on his own people than those in place. Longtime friend and associate William Wesley is not expected to have an official role with the Knicks but certainly will have the ear of Rose when the new team president decides on executives to staff the front office and a coach to guide the team.
A source close to the situation said no decision has been made on whether the mutual option on Perry’s deal for next season will be exercised.
“He knows we’ve been through a lot of up and down this year, coaching changes, president changes, a lot of family tragedies, but he really wants to stick with us,” Kevin Knox said of Rose. “He’s going to make sure that we get better, the team gets better. As a player, that’s what you want to hear. Obviously, we’re tired of losing, so we want to make a change and I think he’s going in the right direction.”
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
