The New York Knicks just reached the ultimate level of being petty.
The Knicks were the only team at the NBA Board of Governors meeting to vote against approving a WNBA franchise for Toronto, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The WNBA Board of Governors voted 13-0 and the NBA’s Board of Governors voted 29-1
ESPN Sources: In approving a new WNBA franchise in Toronto, the WNBA Board of Governors voted 13-0 and the NBA’s Board of Governors voted 29-1. Only the New York Knicks voted against the expansion. Knicks are suing Raptors in case over alleged “theft of proprietary information.”
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 23, 2024
Toronto was officially awarded a WNBA team on Thursday, Shireen Ahmed of CBC Sports first reported on May 10.
Larry Tanenbaum’s Kilmer Sports Ventures is paying $115 million for the team, per The Associated Press.
The Knicks and Raptors have been in an on-going court battle after the Knicks filed a lawsuit alleging that Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic and former Knicks scouting employee Ikechukwu Azotam stole thousands of videos and other scouting information last summer. They are seeking $10 million in damages.
MLSE called the lawsuit “baseless” and a “public relations stunt” by the Knicks.
This is the first time a dispute like this has taken place in the NBA. It has yet to be resolved.
The Raptors and Knicks engaged in one of the biggest trades this season in the midst of all of this. The Raptors traded O.G. Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn to the Knicks in exchange for Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and the No. 31 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Toronto’s WNBA team which has yet to be named, is expected to play its first game in the 2026 season.
Knicks insider reveals expected contract for former Raptors forward O.G. Anunoby
Former Raptors forward O.G. Anunoby is reportedly expected to re-sign with the Knicks for $35 million annually on a multi-year deal, according to SNY’s Ian Begley.
Anunoby is expected to decline his player option and become a free agent this summer, which will allow him to sign for that amount.
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