Q: When Dolan tracked you down, did you think you had another big job in you at this point in your career?
A: Originally, planning on retiring in Indiana. Last 8 months started to think I wasn't going to want to retire. Then thought I'd want to go to New York, my hometown, fix the situation.

Q: Concerned about what happened to Larry Brown possibly happening to you?
A: Yes, but I've been given autonomy, I'm being given the right to do my thing with this.

Q: Scared off at all though? Any pause or concern?
A: I thought about it b/c I know Larry too (laughter from the Dog), but when I met with Dolan he was very upfront saying he'll let me take over this, and gave me free rein.

Q: Has Dolan given you any edicts regarding keeping Isiah?
A: No. Not at all. What I told the press today, the way I do things is to sit down with a guy and meet with him, not just chop everyone's head off.

Q: Such a bad aroma around the Knicks, mostly blamed on Isiah, including the sexual harassment suit, thoughts on even if you wanted to keep Isiah it would be viewed as Dolan making you keep him?
A: That's a reality, based on what I've gone through today that's what it seems like it would be.

Q: Will Isiah complete the season and then whatever happens happens?
A: Yes, he'll finish the season as coach no matter what.

Q: You're gonna have a GM coming in, but will the buck stop with you?
A: Yes, just like in Indiana for the first 22 years of my tenure.

Q: Will you definitely be bringing a GM?
A: No guarantees. Has some people he's planning on talking to, and people who have called him.

Q: Do you get the idea Dolan will be patient to rebuild for a few years?
A: It's not going to be an elite team overnight, but we have to be competitive quickly, like I said at the press conference. Even if it's a good player we can't bring on any big contracts because we need to get cap space.

Q: This town and the fans and media now realize that we shouldn't have traded Ewing, led to all the cap problems, so people would probably be positive to that approach.
A: That's what my plan is.

Q: In Indiana, the disconnect between the fans and the players with all the gun incidents...
A: Well that's why we had to move some guys like Artest and Jackson, but if Jermaine/Jamaal were healthy this would be a playoff team.

Dog then says Marquis Daniels was in some trouble, Donnie interrupts him because that's not true, classic Dog moment.

Q: Were acquiring those problem players errors on your part?
A: No, they did what they did after we got them, we therefore traded them, but the guys we got back are playing really well, especially Dunleavy, if Jermaine was healthy this would be a good team.

Q: Your view of this franchise from the outside?
A: We've had bad basketball teams that haven't performed well, that has to stop.

Q: First thing you have to do?
A: Sit down and talk with everyone, since from the outside you don't really know anything.

Q: What about the last 8 games?
A: We're not tanking, just like Miami isn't, they're playing young players, to get them experience. There's something wrong with losing on purpose. Even though as Mike points out, and Donnie agrees, Spurs did that with Duncan.

Q: This is a great town, that wants to believe and have some hope quickly. What's your message to the fans?
A: That's where I'm going to devote my energy, to prove it to the fans that that's what I'm gonna do.

Q: Do the Knicks have any quality talent?
A: Yes, but they need the players around them, one way is the draft.

Q: 67 years old, 5 year contract. Do you have the fire in your belly?
A: Yes, I was never a consultant, I was there from 8 in the morning before anyone else got there, even Larry Bird, I was the CEO.

Q: What does it mean personally to be here?
A: Want to get them rejuvenated/back on track, back to the days of Ewing vs Reggie, fans were alive, there were great times here.

Q: Will fans have to wait until end of season for any big announcements?
A: Don't want to set any deadlines, but it could happen.

Q: No more strange media policies, so you and the players will be able to be on the air with us?
A: Yes, there were restrictive policies that I didn't see anyone else in the league doing.

Q: Did you talk to the commissioner before you took the job?
A: No

Q; Had you ever met Dolan?
A: No, not until a couple of weeks ago.

Q: Initial impression of him?
A: Very straightforward with me. Seemed very loyal.

Q: Did you talk to anyone, Larry Brown/Glen Sather, who had worked with him?
A: Yes, told he's honest to a fault, and very loyal, kind of guy who'd give you the shirt off his back.

Then they joke about not talking in so long since Indiana's been bad the last few years, Donnie says again he thinks they'll be good soon. He likes the Pistons over the Celtics, also not so sure about the Spurs as the best in the West, thinks Phoenix is figuring it out now.

Interview went from 5:35 to 5:53.