New York Knicks

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo had a heated exchange with New York Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson in a preseason matchup on Sunday, but the two sides have reportedly moved on.

Per SNY's Ian Begley, the incident is "water under the bridge" for the two, who "had a close relationship for a while" when DiVincenzo was a member of the Knicks organization.

DiVincenzo, who last month was traded from New York to Minnesota along with Julius Randle in return for Karl-Anthony Towns, had directed words toward the Knicks bench earlier in the game. After the contest as players and coaches were shaking hands, he and Brunson had to be separated while going back and forth.

The full extent of what they said to each other is unclear, but DiVincenzo was heard on camera saying "I was talking to (Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau)."

After the exchange, DiVincenzo said he and Thibodeau shared an inside joke during the game but did not comment on his interaction with Brunson, per ESPN's Chris Herring.

For now, the two will move on from the incident and focus on their respective seasons.

DiVincenzo, who is entering his eighth season in the NBA, had the best year of his career with the Knicks in 2023-24. He put up 15.5 points, 2.7 assists and 3.7 rebounds as New York reached the Eastern Conference semifinals.

In four preseason games with his new squad, he has put 12.3 points and 4.3 assists per game. He had a 15-point, seven-assist outing against the Knicks.

Brunson, the father of Knicks star Jalen Brunson, is set to enter his third season as a member of New York's coaching staff.

The New York Knicks will have a new sponsor represented on their jersey patch for the 2024-25 season.

Per The Athletic's Mike Vorkunov, the logo of Experience Abu Dhabi, an organization that promotes tourism in the United Arab Emirates capital, will be included on Knicks jerseys, warmup jackets and shooting shirts.

Vorkunov added that the deal to have the Experience Abu Dhabi logo as the jersey patch for the Knicks "will further the relationship between Madison Square Garden and the UAE, as well as between the NBA and UAE." As part of the deal, Experience Abu Dhabi will also have advertising before, during and after Knicks games on MSG Network.

The deal follows an announcement from earlier this week that MSG will open a second version of the Sphere in Abu Dhabi. The Sphere, which is located in Las Vegas, and MSG are both controlled by Knicks owner James Dolan. The Sphere was the team's jersey patch last season.

In addition to the Knicks' partnership with the UAE, the deal expands the NBA's business ties to the region. The league has played preseason games in the UAE for three straight years, and Team USA played exhibition games there in preparation for the Paris Olympics this past summer. The NBA Cup is sponsored by Emirates Airlines.

Vokunov noted that the NBA has been criticized for these dealings because of the UAE's alleged history of human rights violations, leading some to accuse the league of being complicit in sportswashing. NBA commissioner Adam Silver addressed those criticisms earlier this month.

"We're happy to deal directly with the issues. Nothing these days is completely clean," Silver said about criticisms from human rights groups. "We wouldn't say that it's not fair to be critical or have contrary points of view. We came to the decision collectively as a league that by expanding our game internationally, that it's positive and it's part of our mission to create health and wellness around the sport of basketball."

Jalen Brunson didn't take Sunday's post-game altercation between his father, New York Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson, and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo too seriously.

"It was words of affirmation," Jalen said after the contest, per ESPN's Chris Herring.

As DiVincenzo was greeting his former teammates at the end of the Knicks' 115-110 preseason victory, he needed to be separated from Rick as the two exchanged words.

In the first quarter of the game, DiVincenzo was also seen shouting towards New York's bench while taking a pair of free throws.

"That's what happens when they let you run the show," DiVincenzo said, via Herring.

The Timberwolves guard explained the situation with the opposing sideline after the game.

"I'm not there anymore, I play competitive, I wear my heart on my sleeve and that's all it was," DiVincenzo told reporters.

The Knicks also played a tribute video for DiVincenzo and Timberwolves forward Julius Randle prior to the game. They were traded to Minnesota in a blockbuster deal involving Karl-Anthony Towns on Oct. 2.

While DiVincenzo shared some words with Jalen's father, he said after the game that it still doesn't affect his relationship with his former teammate.

"My relationship with Jalen, that's my brother and my best friend," DiVincenzo said, per Herring. "That's a separate relationship. I'll talk about that privately, and figure everything out. But it is what it is."

DiVincenzo thrived against his old team on Sunday, scoring 15 points and dishing out seven assists in 27 minutes on the floor. He shot 6-11 from the field and connected on two of his four attempts from behind the arc.

The Knicks and Timberwolves will face off for the first time in the regular season on Dec. 19.

Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards welcomed the competitiveness new teammate Donte DiVincenzo displayed in Sunday's 115-110 preseason loss to the New York Knicks.

At one point during the game, DiVincenzo said something toward the Knicks' bench while at the free throw line. Then when going through the usual postgame handshakes, he had a tense exchange with Knicks assistant Rick Brunson. DiVincenzo could be heard saying, "I was talking to [Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau]."

Edwards was dismissive of the incident.

"You can't be mad at him, man," he said of DiVincenzo, per ESPN's Chris Herring. "He makes all the right plays and shoots the cover off the ball. New York is definitely going to miss him."

It's unclear what DiVincenzo said to draw the ire of New York's coaching staff. He denied telling the Knicks "thanks for the trade," which was what some on social media interpreted based on videos making the rounds. He added that his comments toward Thibodeau were made in jest.

DiVincenzo was equally evasive regarding his postgame conversation with Brunson.

"Just some words. I don't fully know what was said. A lot of people there," he told reporters. "But I really have no comment on the situation. We're both grown men and can talk about it privately."

The seventh-year guard disputed the idea his trade from the Knicks to the Timberwolves provided him with added motivation heading into the 2024-25 season. It does at least appear he has a bone to pick with Brunson.

New York and Minnesota's first meeting in the regular season is Dec. 19 in Minneapolis. NBA fans will want to make a note on their calendars because it could be a spicy affair.

New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson believed that he was "deserving" of a spot on the United States men's basketball roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

"Yeah, for sure," Brunson told Sam Schube of GQ Sports. "The way I played last year, I thought I was deserving. I thought I could have fit in. I've played many roles throughout my career; I could play another. But obviously, it just wasn't in the cards at that time. And so, you move on and you find ways to get better."

The All-Star point guard also revealed that he has his sights set on a roster spot during the 2028 Summer Olympics.

"You keep having goals, and that's a goal of mine," Brunson said. "I want to play next time."

The 28-year-old is coming off a career year, as his scoring average of 28.7 points per game ranked No. 4 among all players during the 2023-24 season. He also averaged 3.6 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game on 47.9/40.1/84.7 shooting splits, helping the Knicks win 50 games and finish with the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Brunson was part of the U.S. men's basketball team in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, although the United States couldn't earn any hardware. The U.S. squad fell to Germany in the semifinal round before suffering a disappointing loss to Canada in the bronze-medal game.

He was selected as one of 41 finalists for the Olympic roster, earning praise from U.S. men's national team coach Steve Kerr in March.

"He's high on our list and he's definitely somebody we're considering," Kerr said, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Post.

The point guards on the Paris Olympics team included Stephen Curry, Jrue Holiday and Tyrese Haliburton. Team USA won its fifth straight gold medal, taking down France in the final contest by the score of 98-87.

While Brunson attempts to help the Knicks maintain their status as one of the top teams in the East alongside Karl-Anthony Towns, he's also focused on a future Olympic appearance after missing the cut in 2024.

New York Knicks forward Josh Hart fired back at former NBA point guard Brandon Jennings, who had some choice words for the team over the summer.

During an appearance on Gil's Arena in July, Jennings said he wasn't impressed by New York's acquisition of star swingman Mikal Bridges, who won two national championships while playing alongside Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson at Villanova.

"Ain't nobody scared of that s--t. This ain't college," Jennings said at the time, adding that Brunson doesn't know what it's like to be a true champion because he hasn't won a title in the NBA.

Hart, who also played with Brunson and Bridges at Villanova and won a national title before graduating ahead of them, took exception to Jennings' declarations during his podcast appearance.

"If you never won anything in your life, you can't talk about winning," Hart told Sam Schube of GQ Sports. "For guys who've only been losers to talk about how to win is foolish to me."

Jennings was the 10th overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks and played for five different teams over his nine-year career without winning an NBA championship.

Hart, Brunson and Bridges are members of a Knicks team that is expected to be among the top contenders in the Eastern Conference this season. New York will open the year against the reigning champion Boston Celtics on Oct. 22 on TNT.

New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson's recovery time from May ankle surgery may be on the longer side of initial estimates.

On Thursday's episode of First Take, ESPN's Shams Charania said Robinson will miss the remainder of this calendar year while waiting for his foot to get 100 percent healthy.

Robinson dealt with stress fractures in his left ankle at multiple points last season that required surgery two different times. The first procedure happened in December and kept him out for 50 games.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported Robinson had surgery to repair another stress fracture in the same ankle on May 13. He initially injured his ankle in Game 3 of New York's first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Robinson was able to play in three more games before being shut down after Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Indiana Pacers.

SNY's Ian Begley reported last month that Robinson and the Knicks were targeting a "December/January return date" for the 26-year-old center, with the team wanting to ensure he is 100 percent healthy before putting him back on the court.

The Knicks seemed like they were going to have a question mark at center with Robinson injured and Isaiah Hartenstein leaving to sign with the Oklahoma City Thunder in free agency.

Their acquisition of Karl-Anthony Towns in a three-team trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Charlotte Hornets on Oct. 2 solved New York's immediate and long-term need for a proven big man.

Injuries have been a persistent problem throughout Robinson's career. He has only played more than 60 games once in the past four seasons.

When Robinson does play, he's one of the best rebounding centers in the NBA. He has averaged more than four offensive rebounds per game in each of the past three seasons, including a league-best 4.5 per contest during the 2022-23 campaign.

Until Robinson is able to return, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau will likely rely on Jericho Sims as his primary backup center when Towns is on the bench.

New teammates Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart of the New York Knicks took some time between their preseason games to watch Aaron Judge and the Yankees face the Kansas City Royals in Game 2 of the MLB Playoffs.

Towns is showing his face around his new hometown after being traded from the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 2 in a three-way deal.

Entering his third year as a Knick, Hart showed his support for the Yankees team as they currently hold a 1-0 series lead over the Royals.

Hot off a 111-109 win against the Charlotte Hornets, Hart and Towns both played just 15 minutes a-piece. Hart put up one rebound and one assist while Towns finished with 10 points and four rebounds.

Towns previously played nine seasons with the Timberwolves after they drafted him as the No. 1 overall pick in 2015.

Following the Knicks preseason opener, Hart welcomed the 7-foot-big-man by gracing him with the nickname "The Big Bodega."

Altered to "Bodega KAT," the name earned the approval from KAT himself who said, "That's clever. That's pretty good," according to New York Daily News' Kristian Winfield.

The Knicks will continue its preseason play on Tuesday as they face the Washington Wizards at home.

New York Knicks guard Josh Hart christened Karl-Anthony Towns with a new nickname after the big man made his debut in Sunday's 111-109 preseason win over the Charlotte Hornets.

Hart dubbed Towns "The Big Bodega" on social media:

That may not stick as well as the "Bodega KAT" moniker the four-time All-Star quickly received, though.

Bodega cats have taken on a life of their own in New York City. They both serve a practical purpose and can be a welcome sight for residents stopping in at a nearby convenience store.

In that sense, it was only natural for a player often called "KAT" to wind up in the Big Apple.

He and fellow Knicks debutant Mikal Bridges had solid but largely forgettable showings against Charlotte. Towns had 10 points, four rebounds and two steals in 15 minutes on the floor, while Bridges put up four points and one rebound over 13 minutes.

"These guys are all super, super special and they are all very talented and they put the work in," Towns told reporters of his new team. "The coaches put us through drills that allow us to work on our skills and our timing."

For now, he and Knicks fans are firmly in their honeymoon phase. How long that remains will depend on his output on the court.

Some players, most notably Jalen Brunson right now, thrive in the pressure cooker that is the New York media market. Others fail to inspire a lot of goodwill despite having a Hall of Fame-caliber career or become a regular punching bag thanks to their regular struggles.

Should Towns play down to his playoff reputation when the time comes, the nicknames from the Knicks fanbase might become a lot less affectionate.

The New York Knicks announced Friday that Hall of Fame center Patrick Ewing has been named the organization's basketball ambassador and will assist with basketball and business operations.

Ewing, 62, spent 15 of his 17 NBA seasons with the Knicks, earning 11 All-Star nods, seven All-NBA selections and the 1985-86 NBA Rookie of the Year Award, while also leading the Knicks to their most recent NBA Finals appearance in 1999.

The 7-footer got into coaching following the conclusion of his playing career, serving as an assistant with the Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic and Charlotte Hornets before holding the head coaching job at his alma mater, Georgetown, from 2017 to 2023.

After going just 75-109 with one NCAA tournament appearance during his six seasons at Georgetown, Ewing was fired after the 2022-23 season.

That opened the door for the legendary big man to make his way back to the Knicks organization, and he said the following Friday about his new role:

"As I said the day my number 33 jersey lifted into the rafters at MSG, I will always be a Knick and I will always be a New Yorker. I can't wait to get started in this new position and to officially be back with the organization that I love so much. The Garden has always been my home and I'm looking forward to working with [team president] Leon Rose, Coach [Tom] Thibodeau, the team and everyone else that makes this place so special."

Rose also commented on the decision to hire Ewing to a multi-faceted position within the front office, saying:

"The New York Knicks and Patrick Ewing are synonymous with one another, and we are humbled and excited to bring Patrick back home. A monumental figure in New York basketball lore, Patrick brings a wealth of knowledge from his time both on and off the court that is unmatched. We are ecstatic that Patrick will once again be back in the blue and orange."

Selected No. 1 overall in the 1985 NBA draft, Ewing became everything Knicks fans could have dreamed of as a player.

In 1,039 career games with the Knicks, Ewing averaged 22.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.7 blocks, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steal per contest, while shooting 50.8 percent from the field.

Ewing is tops in team history in several statistical categories, including games played, points (23,665), rebounds (10,759), blocks (2,758) and steals (1,061).

While he was never quite able to get the Knicks over the hump to win a championship, Ewing took them to the Finals twice, which is a destination the franchise has not reached since 1999.

It can be argued that the Knicks are now better equipped to vie for a championship than they have been in decades, coming off back-to-back playoff appearances and a 50-win season in 2023-24.

Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart return to lead a stacked roster, plus New York acquired wing Mikal Bridges and center Karl-Anthony Towns in offseason trades with the Brooklyn Nets and Minnesota Timberwolves, respectively.

Towns is a 7-footer with four All-Star appearances to his credit, and there is perhaps no better sounding board for him than Ewing since he knows what it takes to thrive as a star center in the Big Apple.