Donte DiVincenzo gets testy with Knicks in return to MSG for preseason game with Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo controls the ball against the Knicks in the first half of an NBA preseason game at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Before Sunday night’s game, Donte DiVincenzo insisted that his return to Madison Square Garden to face the Knicks was all love. That seemed to be returned as the crowd greeted him with a loud ovation during introductions and the scoreboard put up a video tribute.
Still, the Knicks know DiVincenzo is a fiery competitor. So as he scored in the first quarter and went to the foul line, he shouted toward Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau. When assistant coach Rick Brunson shouted back, DiVincenzo retorted: “This is what happens when they let you run the show.”
If some of it seemed good-natured, that shifted when the game ended. As the teams were crossing paths and exchanging hugs and high-fives, Rick Brunson made his way toward center court and exchanged words with DiVincenzo.
A crowd got between them and Jalen Brunson had his arm around DiVincenzo, a groomsman at his wedding, trying to de-escalate the situation.
“Some words. I don’t know fully well what was said,” DiVincenzo said. He denied reports that he’d said something to Thibodeau about the trade.
“A lot of people there,’’ DiVincenzo said. “But I really have no comment on the situation. I think we’ll both be men and talk about it privately.
“I didn’t say thanks for the trade. It was about a finish. I was joking with Thibs about not being able to finish. He was giving me a hard time. I didn’t say anything about the trade, and that was it. It was in the general direction.
“Obviously, they have me on video saying it. And I’m not there anymore. I play, I’m competitive, I wear my heart on my sleeve, and that’s all it was.”
DiVincenzo said of Jalen Brunson, “My relationship with Jalen — that’s my brother, my best friend. That’s a separate relationship. I said I’ll talk about that privately and figure that out.”
There was plenty of chirping from both teams as DiVincenzo scored nine of his 15 points in the first quarter. Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 16 points and 16 rebounds, repeatedly going right at Rudy Gobert, as the Knicks won their third straight preseason game, 115-110.
“I think that’s pretty much it, everybody competing,” Mikal Bridges said. “No matter if it’s preseason, regular season or playoffs, you just want to compete at the highest level and go win.
“I already knew the situation. I knew he was going to come in and go and be aggressive. Things pretty much [the same] everywhere when guys get traded and it’s really soon, the transaction happened weeks ago, and play them in the preseason. But yeah, he did what he did.”
DiVincenzo was in the starting lineup, honored along with Julius Randle, who was in street clothes. For both of them as well as Towns, the early preseason contest was an odd matchup, coming so soon after the trade involving the three players. But all parties seem happy with where they are now.
“Obviously, all the reports came out that I was unhappy, this and that,” DiVincenzo said. “I talked about it; it wasn’t true. 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.’ ”
When his name was announced in the starting lineup for the Timberwolves, the Garden crowd gave a long and loud ovation for DiVincenzo. But this preseason return two weeks after the trade that sent him away still paled in comparison with his favorite moment as a Knick — his game-winning three-pointer in the playoffs against Philadelphia last season
“100 percent. The reason why is not because of the game, because of the situation,” DiVincenzo said before the game. “The reason why is the floor was shaking. We were in the timeout and the floor was shaking. I’ve never been a part of something like that. I really wanted that second shot because I missed the first one. I was like ‘Bro, Knicks fans are not going to let me live this down if I don’t get this one back.’ That’s by far the No. 1 memory.”
Asked what he will miss, Randle said, “This place right here, man. Just the fans, from a basketball standpoint, the fans, playing in the Garden, hearing my young guy [rookie Rob Dillingham] here, come in and say, ‘These lights are different. This court is different.’
“Just like yeah, man, it was a blessing to play here every night. I enjoyed that. Overall being in the city, the relationships that I established, interacting with all different type of people, the relationships. That’s the thing I miss the most.”
Asked if it feels as if there was unfinished business in New York, Randle said, “It’s finished now. It’s finished now. I’ve got unfinished business where I’m at.”
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
