Ex-Knick’s heated exchange with old teammate’s dad as NBA trade turns spicy

Tensions were high as Donte DiVincenzo had some words for the New York Knicks in a spicy post script to a blockbuster NBA trade.

Donte DiVincenzo let the Knicks hear it in a spicy postscript to the biggest trade of the NBA off-season.

The team’s former guard had a parting message for someone on the Knicks and got into it with his former assistant coach Rick Brunson on Monday (AEDT) in his first game back at Madison Square Garden since the blockbuster trade that sent him to Minnesota as part of a deal that brought Karl-Anthony Towns to NYC.

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The NY Post reports the Knicks were hosting the Timberwolves as part of their pre-season schedule when DiVincenzo looked over in the direction of the Knicks bench and started to jaw at someone, possibly head coach Tom Thibodeau.

“Thank you for the trade,” DiVincenzo appeared to say, with several online accounts indicating that he specifically mentioned Thibodeau’s name.

“That’s what happens when they let you run the show. That’s what happens when they let you run the show.”

DiVincenzo then turned his focus back to his foul shot and sunk the bucket to put the Timberwolves ahead 15-11 in the first quarter.

After the game, won by New York 115-110, Brunson — Jalen’s father and an assistant on the team — and DiVincenzo exchanged words as the two teams were shaking hands.

Watch Donte DiVincenzo’s heated exchange with the Knicks in the video above

Rick Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo exchanged words. Photo: X.

DiVincenzo turned to engage with Brunson, who said something while gesturing in the former Knicks’ direction.

Jalen Brunson attempted to cool things down by putting his arm around DiVincenzo’s shoulders.

DiVincenzo at one point during the ordeal can be heard saying: “I was talking to Thibs”, a possible nod to his exchange to Knicks bench earlier in the game.

As the words between Rick Brunson and DiVincenzo continued, they started to move toward each other prompting some players and coaches to get in between them.

DiVincenzo eventually started walking away from the situation and toward the Timberwolves locker room.

Donte and Rick Brunson are practically family. Please do not waste your time on this.

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) October 14, 2024

“a heated exchange” in preseason??? NBA is so back https://t.co/NYHxvT2k98

— Molly Morrison (@mollyhannahm) October 14, 2024

“I didn’t say thanks for the trade,” DiVincenzo later clarified.

“It was about the finish (at the hoop). I was joking with Tibs about not being able to finish. I didn’t say anything about the trade.

“My relationship with Jalen – that’s my brother, my best friend.

“That’s a separate relationship. I said I’ll talk about that privately (with Rick) and figure that out.

Donte DiVincenzo was beloved at the Knicks but got traded. Photo: Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFP.

He looks different in a Wolves uniform. Photo: X.

News of the blockbuster trade broke earlier this month and led to the Knicks sending DiVincenzo and Julius Randle to Minnesota as part of the deal.

The three-team trade also included the Charlotte Hornets being involved.

DiVincenzo’s return to the Big Apple also came with a chance for him to strike down the rumours that he had been upset over the trade with the Nets that brought Mikal Bridges across the Brooklyn Bridge to the Knicks.

Brunson, Bridges, DiVincenzo and Josh Hart all won NCAA titles for Villanova.

“It was never a thing of, ‘Oh, we got Mikal, I’m pissed off.’ I was super excited,” DiVincenzo said of the chance to play with his college teammates.

“Take the Villanova s**t out of it, I was super excited because we have a very good player coming back to the team. And you get OG (Anunoby) back, now you’re looking at, ‘Wow we’re going to be really good.’

“There was never a conversation of my role was going to be diminished. There was never a conversation that my minutes would be diminished. It was the outside assumption and ran with it and it was untrue.

“My love for Knicks fans is through the roof. It was one of the best years of my life playing here last year.”

This article originally appeared in the NY Post and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Ex-Knick’s heated exchange with old teammate’s dad as NBA trade turns spicy