Is James Dolan A Trump Supporter? Knicks Owner Made Huge Donation Just Before Election

James Dolan — New York Knicks owner, Cablevision CEO and frontman of the band/vanity project JD and the Straight Shot — isn't exactly the most popular man in New York City. Forget that Dolan has steered the NBA franchise into 17 years of largely hapless basketball, he recently outraged fans by kicking Knicks legend Charles Oakley out of Madison Square Garden and having him arrested after a scuffle broke out with security.

And now there's one more thing that could add fuel to the Dolan-anger fire. Not long before Election Day, the billionaire donated $300,000 to a fundraising committee for then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, the New York Daily News reported. That could prove problematic, as 79 percent of New York City voters cast their ballots for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

Dolan gave $50,000 to "Trump Victory," a fundraising committee that sent donations to Trump's campaign, the Republican National Committee and state GOP committees, on Sept. 1, about two months out from Election Day, according to the Daily News. Dolan followed that up with an additional $250,000 sent to Trump Victory's way on Sept. 27. He also gave the maximum personal amount, $2,700, to Trump's campaign.

Things could get even more awkward around the arena for Dolan, since Trump's policies have largely been met with derision in the NBA. Two popular high-profile coaches, the Golden State Warriors' Steve Kerr and the San Antonio Spurs' Gregg Popovich, for instance, have made it a point to regularly speak out against Trump. Stephen Curry, perhaps the league's most popular player, implied the president was "an ass" in an interview with the San Jose Mercury News.

Dolan has previously stumbled into a Trump-related controversy. As a part of his role as Madison Square Garden executive chairman he signed up the Rockettes to perform at Trump's January inauguration. A number of the dancers expressed they did not want to be a part of the performance and a many decided to sit it out.