Judge sends Knicks-Raptors dispute to NBA commissioner Silver - ESPN

A New York judge on Friday ruled NBA commissioner Adam Silver should resolve a dispute between the New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors over the alleged theft of thousands of confidential files.

Less than a week after the Knicks sued the Raptors in August 2023 over the alleged theft, Toronto asked Silver to step in and help settle the dispute. The Raptors continued those efforts in court filings in the months that followed and argued that the lawsuit had «no business wasting judicial resources» given Silver's authority to adjudicate it.

The Knicks, who sought more than $10 million in damages in the lawsuit, pushed back on the Raptors' request, arguing that Silver shouldn't become involved partly because of his close relationship with Raptors governor Larry Tanenbaum, who also is chairman of the NBA board of governors.

On Friday, U.S. District Judge Jessica Clarke weighed in and sided with the Raptors, which now sends the matter to Silver, according to a court filing obtained by ESPN.

For now, the case, which had been playing out in the U.S. Southern District Court in Lower Manhattan, is on hold while the sides explore finding a resolution out of court.

If Silver finds that the case can't be arbitrated, the court has to be notified within seven days of that decision, according to the filing. All parties have until Dec. 13 to provide an update to the court about where the arbitration process stands.

«The Raptors and [Raptors owner Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment] are pleased that the court agreed this should be resolved by the NBA, which we have maintained is the correct forum for disputes of this nature,» a Raptors spokesperson said in a statement to ESPN. «We hope this brings this matter closer to a resolution.»

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