The Knicks welcomed back Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle to Madison Square Garden on Sunday night, as the Timberwolves came to town just weeks after the two were dealt to Minnesota for All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns.
Both Randle and DiVincenzo were expected to be foundational pieces for the Knicks as they looked to take the next step towards title contention, but instead, they were dealt away in a shocking trade, as New York seemed to believe they would get closer to that level of contention with Towns in the fold.
All seemed fine before the game, as DiVincenzo gloated about his time with the Knicks and the fan support, and the Knicks played a tribute video for both Randle and DiVincenzo. But as the action got going, DiVincenzo seemed to be barking over at the Knicks bench while he was shooting free throws, where some lip-reading investigators said he seemed to “thank” Tom Thibodeau for the trade (he told reporters after the game that he did not say anything about the trade, and was giving Thibodeau a hard time about "not being able to finish"), and appeared to be saying, “That’s what happens when they let you run the show,” just before taking a foul shot.
Some believed it might have been playful banter, but after the game, as DiVincenzo talked to his former teammates, he seemed to get in an exchange with Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson, even having to be separated from the crowd as the two exchanged words.
"I didn't see it," Thibodeau said after the game, via The Athletic. "Two competitive guys. Stuff like that does happen."
After the game, DiVincenzo declined to comment on the dust-up with his former coach in Brunson, and said they can "talk about it privately." As for his remarks towards the Knicks bench during the game, DiVincenzo said his comments were made "in a general direction."
"Obviously they have me on video saying it," DiVincenzo said of his "that's what happens when they let you run the show" comments, via SNY. "I'm not there anymore. I play, I'm competitive, and I wear my heart on my sleeve. That's all it was."
It was a much different outlook than when he spoke to reporters before the game.
“My love for Knicks fans is through the roof,” DiVincenzo said before the game, via SNY. “I’ve said it, it was one of the best years of my life playing here last year. It’s something that you dream about. I didn’t plan, I didn’t want, I didn’t hope to leave. I didn’t sign a deal here thinking, ‘I’m signing a four-year deal, I hope I get traded a year in.’ So that’s that part of it.
“You always got to separate the business aspect and then with the fans. I think the fans will always have a special place in my heart…a lot of people showed it to me but it was very mutual. You can’t even describe it. I don’t know how to get back to all the fans and everything, so we just put out a thank you because they’re amazing.”
Based on the interactions towards the coaching staff during Sunday’s game, DiVincenzo may not feel the same with Thibodeau and Brunson, Jalen Brunson’s father.
As for Randle, he did not play as he continues to rehab his surgically-repaired shoulder, but he also gave love to the Knicks fans for their support in his five seasons in New York.
“MSG always has so much energy...being back here is fun. It’s a lot of fun,” Randle said. “It was amazing. I had a lot of fun. I accomplished a lot of great things. My whole thing was, I wanted to get the Knicks back to winning ways and make it a respected organization. I feel like I did that while I was here. So I had a great time, and I’m just looking forward to my time in Minnesota now.”