There's nothing quite like a blockbuster trade that births a new rivalry in the NBA. Such appears to be the case between the Knicks and Timberwolves.
Days before training camp for the 2024-25 season began, Minnesota agreed to send former No. 1 overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns to New York in exchange for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. The two teams met for a preseason game 11 days after the trade became official. After the final buzzer sounded, DiVincenzo had a fiery exchange with Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson.
The name is no coincidence: Brunson is also the father of New York's franchise player, Jalen Brunson. As such, Rick's relationship with DiVincenzo dates back to DiVincenzo's time as Jalen's Villanova teammate.
Heated as the exchange appeared to be, both sides have downplayed the nature of the argument in the time since. Each time these teams face off, however, the disagreement will undoubtedly be a talking point. Here is a recap of what happened and the explanation that has been offered from everyone involved.
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It all began midway through the first quarter when DiVincenzo hit a driving floater while absorbing the contact of a foul from Josh Hart. Because the foul occurred in front of New York's bench, DiVincenzo had an opportunity to exchange some barbs with his former team.
"Can't finish, right Thibs?" DiVincenzo jokingly said toward Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau.
After an unintelligible response came back from the New York bench, DiVincenzo's tenor changed as he responded by saying, "That's what happens when they let you run the show!" A retort that did not seem like it was directed to Thibodeau.
When the game came to a close, tensions rose. Before returning to the locker room, DiVincenzo made his way to half-court to exchange pleasantries with his former teammates. As DiVincenzo continued his conversations, a seemingly peeved Rick Brunson came over to speak his mind, resulting in the two needing to be separated.
As per internet sleuths, talented lip-readers and, more reliably, the on-court microphone, here is how the exchange went:
Rick Brunson: Sucker s -- man. That was some sucker s -- . I'ma let you live, bro.
Donte DiVincenzo: You talked to me! I was talking to Thibs. You wanna bring it out here for the camera.
Cooler heads ultimately prevailed, and both DiVincenzo and Rick Brunson have cleared the air when asked about the exchange in its aftermath.
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"Family talks and family moves forward," DiVincenzo said ahead of a rematch with his former team. "I wish them -- obviously, that situation, but everybody over there, every single person over there -- I wish nonstop individual success and collective success."
Rick Brunson sang a similar tune when he joined his son and Hart on their "Roommates Show" podcast in mid-November.
"As you know, he's family, man. So I thought it was blown out of proportion," Brunson said.
"I could have handled it in a better way. ...I thought, myself included, we didn't act right. But it's over with, we talked the next day. It's all good."
After the Knicks and Timberwolves meet on Dec. 19, they'll meet one final time in Madison Square Garden on Jan. 17.