New Knicks GM Scott Perry revealed Friday that he has "not yet met" Owner James Dolan a week after being hired, according to Ian Begley of ESPN.com. Perry said that he had dealt with President Steve Mills "throughout the hiring process rather than Dolan." Perry said of Dolan, "I have not met with him yet, but I'm looking forward to that." Begley noted it is a "bit unusual for an owner to hire a top executive without meeting him, but Dolan said last month he will not play a role in day-to-day operations of the club going forward." Perry added that he had "no reservation about taking the Knicks' GM position in light of Dolan's history of involvement with management decisions." Perry: "No, I really didn't. Again, Steve Mills, who I worked with very closely in this process, I have a lot of trust and faith in him. The organization has been very welcoming of me. I'm very confident in who I am as a person and am confident in the vision that's been set here" (ESPN.com, 7/21). Asked how long it takes to change a culture, and what are the key ingredients, Perry said, "I hate to put a number of years or months. ... What I will say is that it starts Day 1, and then you have to live it every day, and you have to be consistent every day. Whatever your philosophy’s gonna be, it’s gotta be consistent, it’s gotta be clear, it’s gotta be one that empowers everyone in the organization to be successful, and also holds everybody accountable, and hold each other accountable. ... So hopefully, whenever that is, someone'll be able to come in here and say, 'OK, I see it, I get it'" (N.Y. POST, 7/23).
