Sunday’s preseason clash between the Knicks and Timberwolves was anything but friendly when Donte DiVincenzo returned to Madison Square Garden and got into a verbal argument with his former coaches.
Despite playing a key role in the Knicks’ playoff run last season, DiVincenzo, along with Julius Randle, was traded to Minnesota to bring Karl-Anthony Towns to the Big Apple.
After being sent to acquire Towns, DiVincenzo seemed to have something to prove to the Knicks. During the game, the guard could be heard going back and forth with the New York bench while standing at the free throw line.
“This is what happens when they let you run the show,” DiVincenzo seemed to say to the opposing bench.
However, the verbal exchanges were far from over. After the final buzzer sounded at the Garden, DiVincenzo exchanged words with Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson.
Donté DiVincenzo got into a verbal dispute with the Knicks coaching staff on Sunday night.
Rick is also the father of All-Star guard Jalen Brunson, who could be seen in the background as his father got into a fight with his former Knicks and Villanova teammate.
The pair would later separate when DiVincenzo walked away and headed to the locker room.
After the game, DiVincenzo clarified that he did not thank Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau for trading him after he was mistakenly captioned in a clip.
“I didn’t say ‘thanks for the trade,'” he said. ‘It was about the end. I was joking with Thibs about not being able to finish. I saw the clip. I didn’t say anything about trade.
In the end, New York had the last laugh by winning the warm-up game 115-110. DiVincenzo recorded 15 points, seven assists and three rebounds in Minnesota’s losing effort.
DiVincenzo arrived in Midtown Manhattan from Golden State and became a beloved player in New York during the Knicks’ impressive run last season.
He averaged 12 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists as the Knicks beat the 76ers in six games to start the postseason. DiVincenzo then exploded in the Conference Semifinals, averaging 22.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.6 dishes in a seven-game loss to Indiana.
DiVincenzo and Julius Randle were traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves later this summer.
The trade was made by the Knicks to acquire Minnesota great Karl-Anthony Towns.
Late in the offseason, Orange and Blue fans were shocked to discover that DiVincenzo was traded after just one season in exchange for Towns.
The trade ruined a Villanova reunion in New York after the Knicks acquired Mikal Bridges from across the East River to supposedly reunite him with college teammates DiVincenzo, Brunson and Josh Hart.
All four were members of the Wildcats team that defeated North Carolina for the 2016 NCAA Tournament championship.
After being left out of the party in New York, DiVincenzo admitted to being depressed after the exchange. However, he reiterated his concentration on the task at hand with his new team.
“I felt hurt, a little sad,” DiVincenzo said. “And then you move on to the next process of the job, the business aspect, and just by understanding you move forward and now my mind is completely in Minnesota, and that’s it.”
The two teams will meet again on December 19.