Donte DiVincenzo let the Knicks hear it.
The team's former guard delivered a farewell message to someone on the Knicks Sunday night, in his first game back at Madison Square Garden since the blockbuster trade that sent him to Minnesota as part of the deal, a former assistant coach. I had a discussion with Rick Brunson. That's what brought Karl-Anthony Towns to New York.
When the Knicks were hosting the Timberwolves as part of their preseason schedule, DiVincenzo looked toward the Knicks bench and began jawing at someone, most likely head coach Tom Thibodeau.
“Thank you for making the trade,” DiVincenzo said, and multiple online accounts show that DiVincenzo specifically mentioned Thibodeau by name. “When they run the show, this is what happens. When they run the show, this is what happens.”
DiVincenzo then turned his focus back to his foul shot, sinking a bucket to give the Timberwolves a 15-11 lead in the first quarter.
After the game, Brunson, Jalen's father and an assistant on the team, and DiVincenzo shook hands and exchanged words.
DiVincenzo turned around to meet Brunson, and Brunson said something while gesturing in the former Knick's direction.
Jalen Brunson put his arm around DiVincenzo's shoulders and tried to calm the situation down.
At one point during the ordeal, DiVincenzo was heard saying, “I was talking to Thisbus,” which could be an allusion to his exchange with the Knicks bench earlier in the game.
Donte DiVincenzo and Rick Brunson had to be separated after a heated exchange after the match. pic.twitter.com/K2K7vz1g3w
— KnicksMuse (@KnicksMuse) October 14, 2024
As the words between Rick Brunson and DiVincenzo continued, they began to grow closer to each other, prompting several players and coaches to come between them.
DiVincenzo eventually removed himself from the situation and began walking toward the Timberwolves' locker room.
News of the deal broke earlier this month, with the Knicks sending DiVincenzo and Julius Randle to Minnesota as part of the deal.
The Hornets also participated in this three-team trade.
DiVincenzo's return to the Big Apple was also a chance to quash rumors that he was upset about the trade with the Nets that brought Mikal Bridges across the Brooklyn Bridge to the Knicks.
In an exclusive conversation with The Post's Stephen Bondi, DiVincenzo said these rumors are “completely untrue.”
“There was never a moment where I was like, 'Oh, I got Mikal, I'm pissed.' I was so excited,” DiVincenzo said. “Villanova aside, I was very excited because we have a very good player coming back to the team, and you get O.G. [Anunoby] Go back and now you're thinking, “Wow, we're going to be really good.” There was never any talk that my role would be reduced. There was never any talk that my working hours would be reduced. It was an external assumption and it was performed accordingly, but it was not true. ”
