Isiah Thomas Appointed to Knicks Board of Directors

Isiah Thomas is set to return to the New York Knicks organization in a new capacity as a member of the team's board of directors. This appointment comes as Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. prepares to divide the Knicks and the New York Rangers into two separate publicly traded companies.

The corporate split, which is contingent on approval from the NBA and NHL, is scheduled for completion on October 26. Following the transaction, the Knicks and the Westchester Knicks will operate under the newly formed MSG Knickerbockers Corporation, while the Rangers, the MSG training facility, and the Hartford Wolf Pack will be managed by MSG Rangers Corporation.

Thomas's role will be that of a board member, overseeing responsibilities to shareholders. This position does not involve day-to-day basketball operations or roster decisions, as board members are not considered employees of the company.

This appointment marks a renewed involvement for Thomas with the Knicks, despite a contentious history as the team's president and head coach. He served as president from the 2003-04 season through 2007-08, during which the team compiled a record of 138-237. For the last two years of that tenure, he also held the position of head coach, leading the team to a 56-108 record. Thomas was dismissed from both roles following the 2007-08 season.

During his time as president, Thomas was involved in a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by former team executive Anucha Browne Sanders. Madison Square Garden settled the suit for $11.5 million, though Thomas was not personally liable for damages.

After his departure from the Knicks' top positions, Thomas was considered for a consulting role, but he accepted a head coaching position at Florida International University, which prevented him from working for both entities simultaneously. Despite these circumstances, Thomas has maintained a relationship with Knicks owner James Dolan. He was part of the team's unsuccessful recruitment of LeBron James in 2010 and was credited by the team for his role in signing Amar'e Stoudemire in the same offseason.

In 2011, reports indicated Thomas played a significant behind-the-scenes role in the trade for Carmelo Anthony, a claim the Knicks denied. He later returned to a leadership role in 2015 when Dolan hired him as president of the WNBA's Liberty, a position he held until Dolan sold the team in 2019. Thomas has also served on the board of directors for Sphere Entertainment, which is owned by Dolan, since 2020.

Steve Mills, former president of the Knicks, will transition from the MSG Sports Corporation board to the MSG Rangers Corporation board. Mills previously served as Knicks president for four years, from the 2013-14 season to 2019-20.