Sunday’s preseason matchup between the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves at Madison Square Garden was filled with drama off the court. Donte DiVincenzo, who was traded from the Knicks to the Timberwolves in a recent deal, found himself in multiple altercations during the game. First, he appeared to shout at Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau while at the free-throw line. Later, he had to be separated from Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson, who is also the father of New York’s All-NBA point guard Jalen Brunson.
DiVincenzo denied that his comments were about Thibodeau or related to the trade after the game. However, tensions escalated when he and Rick Brunson got into a shouting match on the court as they walked past each other after the game. The reason for their argument remains unclear.
Last season, DiVincenzo had a successful stint with the Knicks, averaging career highs in points (15.5), 3-pointers (283), and 3-point percentage (40.1%). He also made a memorable clutch shot during Game 2 of New York’s first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers in last year’s playoffs.
Despite his success with the Knicks, DiVincenzo now finds himself on a winning team with the Timberwolves. Last season, they advanced to Western Conference finals and defeated teams like Denver Nuggets along their way.
The tension between DiVincenzo and his former team may stem from being traded away after such a successful season with them. However, it remains to be seen how this will affect his performance moving forward.
