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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.
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