Donte DiVincenzo returned to Madison Square Garden to play the New York Knicks on Sunday, just weeks after being traded.
It was a testy return for DiVincenzo, who had a breakout season with the Knicks and set a franchise record for made threes in his lone season in New York.
DiVincenzo’s return was highlighted by trash-talking the Knicks bench during a trip to the free throw line, in which DiVincenzo appeared to say, “That’s what happens when they let you run the show.”
Donte Divencenzo chirping at Thibs in the preseason 👀
“Thanks for the trade Thibs… that’s what happens when they let you run the show.” pic.twitter.com/e3hI3xq8iO
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) October 14, 2024
After the game, DiVincenzo appeared to get into a heated exchange with Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson. It’s unclear what started it or what was said.
Things got heated between Donte DiVincenzo and Rick Brunson after Timberwolves-Knicks. pic.twitter.com/wLcsyFsG6y
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) October 14, 2024
After the game, DiVincenzo told reporters that he never brought up the trade while at the free throw line. DiVincenzo instead said he was jokingly trash-talking Tom Thibodeau about finishing a shot in the paint, which set up an and-one trip to the foul line.
“I didn’t say thanks for the trade,” DiVincenzo told reporters. “It was about the finish. It was a joke with Thibs about not being able to finish.”
Donte DiVincenzo says that he was not talking to Tom Thibodeau about being traded to the Timberwolves when he yelled towards the Knicks’ bench during the game tonight: pic.twitter.com/SfMNclGOhv
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) October 14, 2024
Indeed, one social media video appeared to show DiVincenzo saying, “Can’t finish, right, Thibs?”
Above the rim Donte talking to Knicks bench – regular then voice enhanced pic.twitter.com/cfZDlRofj9
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) October 14, 2024
However, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Post, DiVincenzo’s subsequent comments were to Rick Brunson. DiVincenzo told reporters that he would straighten out what happened with Rick privately.
As far as clip circulating of Donte at foul line, DiVincenzo said he was joking with Thibs about not being able to finish. Donte said he never said, “Thanks for trade.” The stuff with Rick Brunson wasn’t joking, however, including when he looked at Knicks bench (not at Thibs) and…
— Stefan Bondy (@SbondyNBA) October 14, 2024
It’s unclear what was said between DiVincenzo and Rick Brunson during the postgame interaction.
Beyond being with the Knicks last season, DiVincenzo knows Rick Brunson dating back to playing at Villanova alongside Jalen.
The brush-up would presumably not have any lasting impact on DiVincenzo’s relationship with Jalen, as DiVincenzo was a groomsman in Brunson’s wedding, something Jalen mentioned to reporters when discussing the trade.
Before Sunday’s game, DiVincenzo shot down rumors that he was unhappy in New York.
“Obviously all the reports came out that I was unhappy, this and that, I talked about it, it wasn’t true,” DiVincenzo said (via Stefan Bondy of The New York Post). “My love for Knicks fans is through the roof. I’ve said it — it was one of my best years of my life playing here last year. It’s something you dream about doing. I didn’t plan to get traded. I didn’t sign here thinking, ‘I’m signing a four-year deal, I hope I get traded a year in.’ So that’s that part of it. You always got to separate the business aspect with the fans. I think the fans will always have a special place in my heart. And also playing here, being here, having the energy here, it’s special.”
The Knicks face the Wolves again on December 19 in Minnesota.
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