Donte DiVincenzo seemed to vent his anger at the Knicks’ bench during the Minnesota Timberwolves’ preseason game in New York.
As the recently traded DiVincenzo was at the free-throw line going through his routine, cameras spotted the 27-year-old seemingly talking to someone on the Knicks bench. Because of the angle, it was not explicitly clear who DiVincenzo was talking to, but it appeared as if the Timberwolves guard was letting his frustration known to his former coaches.
“Alright,” DiVincenzo was supposedly heard telling the New York bench. “Thanks for the trade. This is what happens when they let you run the show. That’s what happens when they let you run the show.” DiVincenzo then calmly sank the free throw – though in the end, it was inconsequential as the Knicks won 115-110.
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After the game, DiVincenzo was caught up in another incident as he was meeting up with his former teammates. While he was walking away, cameras spotted Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson – Knicks star Jalen’s father – saying some words to the former New York guard.
Though it was unknown what DiVincenzo told Brunson in response, it appeared as if the 27-year-old was incensed by what the elder Brunson told him as Jalen was seen attempting to lead DiVincenzo away, his arm around the Minnesota guard. Rick then made his way to DiVincenzo and continued to talk to the guard, shoving his way through a wall of people who attempted to separate the two.
Rick eventually made his way to DiVincenzo’s face and said a handful of words to him before Knicks star Mikal Bridges pulled him away from the fracas. DiVincenzo was also led away by Minnesota’s coaches to end any escalation.
Donte DiVincenzo and New York Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson had to be separated after the game (
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Speaking to reporters in the locker room, DiVincenzo clarified what he told the Knicks bench during his now-viral moment at the free-throw line. “I didn’t say ‘Thanks for the trade,'” he said, per SNY. “It was about the finish. I was joking with [ineligible] about not being able to finish. I was giving him a hard time. I wasn’t talking to [Tom Thibodeau]. I saw the clip, I wasn’t talking to Thibs. I didn’t say anything about the trade. So we’re good.”
Regarding his incident with Brunson, DiVincenzo stated: “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.”
Despite the fireworks in his first trip back to New York after the trade, DiVincenzo made it clear he enjoyed his time with the Knicks. Before the game, the guard cleared the air on reports stating he was unhappy with his role with the Knicks.
“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,” he said, per the New York Post. “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.”
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