Jalen Brunson And Josh Hart Open Up On Donte DiVincenzo-Rick Brunson Incident
The New York Knicks have had an eventful offseason so far, most notably making a huge splash by signing Jalen Brunson to a four-year, $104 million deal. However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Knicks during the summer, as there were rumors surrounding a possible altercation between Donte DiVincenzo and assistant coach Rick Brunson. Despite neither player nor coach addressing the rumored fight at the time, Josh Hart, the newest member of the Knicks, and his backcourt mate Jalen Brunson finally offered some insight on the incident.
In an interview with “The Fan,” Jalen Brunson shared some insight on what he has witnessed in his time with Rick Brunson. “For him to get into anything,” Brunson stated, “means it had to be something serious for it to come down to him. Like you’re talking about something physical that happened, there has to be some level of something serious.” When it comes to Donte DiVincenzo, Brunson offered high praise. He described the former Milwaukee Bucks champion as a “very emotional” player, which Brunson said is “great to have in the NBA,” and added, “The Knicks need that.”
In addition to the altercation itself, Brunson provided insights on his teammate’s passion for the game and highlighted DiVincenzo’s crucial role in helping the Knicks make it to the second round of the NBA Playoffs last season. When asked whether he ever saw the fight go down or witnessed it in its entirety, Brunson answered, “It didn’t play out where I was.”
Josh Hart was interviewed later that day by “Sports Illustrated.” During the interview, Hart confirmed his support for Rick Brunson, describing the Knicks coach as “tough” and someone who “doesn’t take any BS from anybody.” Hart’s response reflected a common sentiment across the team, echoing the loyalty they hold for their coaches. Though Hart has expressed his admiration for Rick Brunson, the 28-year-old shooting guard also spoke candidly about the rumored incident with Donte DiVincenzo. “Donte is a very passionate, intense guy, and a lot of people take that the wrong way,” Hart explained. “He is passionate, and that’s how he plays the game, that’s who he is. The coaching staff, including Rick, understands him. If there is something to talk about, then it’s going to be ironed out behind closed doors.”
DiVincenzo’s aggressive, fiery approach to basketball was recognized even during his college days. As the former Villanova standout shared, “There is always something behind what I do; my competitive spirit is what makes me who I am. It’s not a new thing.”
Although there haven’t been official details released about what took place, and the Knicks front office, nor anyone on the team has offered specific accounts, Brunson and Hart have shared what they believe to be important aspects of the situation. They both acknowledged that a discussion about the incident may have taken place, highlighting the strength of the Knicks organization and its approach to internal conflicts.
While both Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart addressed the situation publicly, the story behind the rumored altercation, which potentially caused some drama on the team, will likely remain hidden in the shadows. Regardless of how it went down, fans and basketball experts remain optimistic about the future of the Knicks. The new players, especially Brunson, will hopefully improve their offense. In turn, the presence of proven players such as Hart and DiVincenzo is expected to lead to even better team dynamics going into the new season. The rumored incident serves as a reminder that even the most passionate of players, such as DiVincenzo, sometimes need to find ways to channel their competitive drive in more controlled ways.
