Tensions were high in the New York Knicks’ preseason matchup versus the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday. Former Knicks star Donte DiVincenzo had words for several members of his former team, causing a heated exchange after the game.
The New York Knicks traded DiVincenzo, along with Julius Randle, in a three-team trade to acquire Karl-Anthony Towns, sending the pair to Minnesota. DiVincenzo took frustrations from the trade out on his former team during Sunday night’s matchup.
DiVencenzo engaged in an argument after Minnesota’s loss to the Knicks with Rick Brunson, a coach for the Knicks and the father of New York’s star point guard Jalen Brunson.
While the two had to be separated, the disagreement remained vocal. The Knicks defeated the Timberwolves 115-110, advancing to 3-0 in the preseason.
Brunson led the Knicks in scoring, finishing with 24 points in 24 minutes of action. The exchange was a result of DiVincenzo dishing out trash-talk in the direction of the Knicks bench while shooting free throws in the first quarter.
Donte DiVincenzo talks trash to former team during preseason game
Donte DiVincenzo started the trash talk in the Timberwolves’ matchup versus the Knicks. While shooting free throws with six minutes remaining in the first quarter, DiVincenzo was talking to New York’s bench.
A clip of DiVincenzo’s trash talk quickly went viral, accumulating over two million views on X.
In the video, DiVincenzo could be seen saying, “This is what happens when they let you run the show,” talking to his former head coach, Tom Thibodeaux. DiVincenzo also told Thibodeaux “thank you” for trading him during his soliloquy.
DiVincenzo had a breakout year in his lone season with the Knicks alongside his collegiate teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. Last season, he averaged a career-high 15.5 points per game, shooting 44.3% from the field and 40.1% from three-point range, another career high.
The Knicks broke up their core of Jalen Brunson, Donte Divincenzo, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart, all former Villanova Wildcats, with the trade for Karl-Anthony Towns. DiVincenzo finished with 15 points and seven assists against his former team on Sunday.
