NEW YORK — Donnie Walsh will not return as president of the Knicks, who must find someone else to continue the building job he started.
The Knicks announced Friday that Walsh and Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan mutually agreed Walsh will not return when his contract expires at the end of June, a somewhat surprising departure and a major loss for a team coming off its best season in a decade.
Walsh, 70, said he decided Thursday that he wasn’t up to Dolan’s request that he stay on for at least two years.
“I wasn’t sure that I wanted to go and devote myself multiyear. On the other hand, I understand why he would want that,” Walsh said.
It also opens questions about whether coach Mike D’Antoni will return for the final year of his deal, though Walsh indicated D’Antoni would stay.
“I know that he is the guy that can take this team to the next level,” Walsh said. “Mike wants to see the job through.”
Walsh has battled health problems and was separated from most of his family, who remained in Indiana when he came to New York.
“I do miss my wife and my family, and this is a 24-7 situation, as a lot of GM situations are. This is even more intense,” Walsh said. “I’m running out of energy.”
Footnotes.
The 10.5 overnight TV rating for Game 2 of the NBA Finals was down slightly from the 10.9 for the second game of last season’s Celtics-Lakers series.
• Raptors forward Amir Johnson underwent surgery on his left ankle and is expected to be ready for training camp.
