NEW YORK – Everyone was on their best behavior before the preseason game between the New York Knicks and the Minnesota Timberwolves, which happened to come just over two weeks after the two teams agreed to a blockbuster trade on the eve of training camp.

Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo spoke enthusiastically about their time in New York, saying they understood the business side of the league that led to their move to Minnesota and were excited to compete for a championship with the Timberwolves.

Karl-Anthony Towns beamed as he greeted his former team, hugging Jaden McDaniels before the game, chest-thumping Rudy Gobert before the opening tipoff and praising Anthony Edwards, his teammate in four of his nine seasons with the Wolves.

Then DiVincenzo stepped to the free throw line in the first quarter, adding some spice to a reunion that may have come a little too soon after the deal for everyone involved.

“I can’t finish, can I, Thibs?” DiVincenzo said, pointing to the Knicks’ bench as he chirped. “Can’t finish, can I?”

DiVincenzo insisted this was a playful interaction with Tom Thibodeau, his coach last season in New York, his best as a pro. The two got along great during their time together, as DiVincenzo defended Thibs against longstanding criticism that he was too hard on players to succeed in the modern era.

During the game, some amateur lip-readers initially thought that DiVincenzo had said “Thanks for the trade, Thibs,” implying that he had to deal with the organization, and particularly the head coach, for moving him after such a successful season. But he strenuously rejected that suggestion, saying it would “make life difficult for Thbs” and said nothing about a deal. But DiVincenzo said something else after chiding Thibodeau for finishing near the rim.

“This is what happens when you give someone control,” he continued.

Did you say that part, Donte?

“It was in the general direction,” DiVincenzo said. “Obviously they had me on video saying it. I’m not here anymore. I play. I am competitive. I wear my heart on my sleeve. That was all.”

That comment wasn’t directed at Thibodeau, but rather at assistant coach Rick Brunson, who started firing back at DiVincenzo when the guard shot something at the head coach. Brunson is not only the father of Knicks star Jalen Brunson, but has been a loyal foot soldier for Thibodeau for years, including serving on his staff in Minnesota and Chicago.

Rick Brunson never experienced a confrontation he didn’t like, and his in-game interaction with DiVincenzo paved the way for a heated exchange between the two after the Knicks earned a 115-110 victory over the Timberwolves in the preseason.

As both teams gathered near center court after the game and Towns swapped jerseys and shoes with Edwards, Naz Reid met some old friends and DiVincenzo chatted with Villanova classmates Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges, Rick Brunson and DiVincenzo started to insult each other.

Donte DiVincenzo and Rick Brunson had to be separated after an exchange of words 😳

This was Donte’s first game back in New York after moving to Minnesota pic.twitter.com/CDt72FzEkH

– Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 14, 2024

“Just a few words. I don’t quite know what was said,” DiVincenzo said after the game. “Lots of people there. But I have no comment on the situation. We’re both grown men and we can talk about this privately.”

Jalen Brunson joked that his friend and his father exchanged “words of affirmation.” Thibodeau said he did not see the interaction but appeared unconcerned.

“Two competitive guys,” Thibodeau said. “Things like this happen.”

DiVincenzo made two things clear: He has nothing to do with Thibodeau and he considers Jalen Brunson his best friend. The implication was not lost on anyone. He has respect for Thibodeau and Jalen, but any relationship with Rick Brunson needs to be addressed.

“That’s a separate relationship,” DiVincenzo said. “I’ll discuss this privately and find out everything.”

Even though they’re just getting to know DiVincenzo after he was acquired just a few weeks ago, in some ways they already feel like they have a handle on him. He has quickly made a name for himself from the top of the organization, both for the shooting and playmaking skills he displays as a player and for the toughness and intensity he brings to the team.

Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly didn’t want to enter into trade talks with the Knicks for Towns until they brought DiVincenzo into the conversation. Connelly has been tracking him for two years. He thought the Wolves would have him in free agency in 2023, but they lost to New York. Connelly was eager to sign a player with his competitive spirit if he wanted to part ways with a player who was important to KAT’s franchise.

His teammates and coaches quickly took an interest in him, seeing a player who could shoot from distance, defend multiple positions and play for others. And to see him mix it up with a coach who has been known to get into a conflict or two in his time.

“I like the fact that he’s salty,” Wolves coach Chris Finch said. “These are the guys you want to go into battle with.”

The fact that Brunson was in the middle had special meaning for the Timberwolves. Brunson was an assistant to Thibodeau in Minnesota and resigned in 2018 amid allegations of inappropriate behavior toward multiple women.

Now that Towns is in New York, there is no player or coach left from Brunson’s time in Minnesota. But those players already admire DiVincenzo’s toughness and grit, something they could have used last season when they edged Dallas in the Western Conference finals.

DiVincenzo had 15 points, seven assists and three rebounds against the Knicks on Sunday, continuing his strong play this preseason. After trading their best shooter in Towns, the Wolves need DiVincenzo to fill in from the perimeter, and he’s done just that. But they were pleasantly surprised by his ability to master the dribble, giving them confidence that he can also play point guard when Mike Conley needs a break.

back as if he had never left. pic.twitter.com/JLUDPenRcD

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) October 13, 2024

“IUnbelievable,” said Edwards, who scored 31 points and made 8 of 13 3-point shots. “I don’t need the ball. You see it. I’m having fun, man. Donte is fun to play with. I haven’t even gotten to play with Julius yet, so we’ll see what that looks like. I’m not going to lie, playing with Donte is a lot of fun.”

DiVincenzo’s encounter with Brunson was one of several moments of unusual intensity for a preseason game. Towns attempted to dunk on Reid and pointed after pushing past Gobert for a flush. Finch and Thibodeau drove the officiating team like it was a playoff game.

““It was a lot of emotions,” said Towns, who had 16 points, 16 rebounds and three steals in 29 minutes. “Some amazing moments and times in nine years of my life in Minnesota, a place I have called home. Guys who to me are not just teammates, but brothers. We were like brothers. It was definitely a wild day coming to work.”

Speaking ahead of the game, Towns may have been the most honest of all the players involved in the trade. He talked about a recent dinner he had with his girlfriend Jordyn Woods and the strangeness of still getting Timberwolves notifications on his phone.

“SHe looked at me, tapped me on the shoulder and said, ‘Do you really think this is our life now?'” Towns said earlier in the weekend. “We are both still in shock. It’s definitely still there.”

Likewise, DiVincenzo couldn’t speak highly enough about his experience with the Knicks fans in New York. His tenacious play and elite shooting made him a fan favorite, never more so when he drilled a 3-pointer with 13 seconds left to beat Philadelphia in Game 2 of the first-round playoff series in April.

“I love these fans so much. The energy in it is absolutely amazing,” DiVincenzo said. “That’s where the energy and motivation comes from. …I’ve been traded before. I returned to the team I played for. There is no extra on top. But Garden fans add a little something extra. It was special.”

While there was a bit of drama on center court, Edwards and Towns made sure they had their moment on the side. The two spent time together on Saturday, meeting in person for the first time since trading Towns on Sept. 27. The two remained close during their four years together in Minnesota, with Edwards appreciating Towns welcoming him so warmly as the face of the franchise and Towns acknowledging Edwards’ willingness to be in the spotlight as his star rose in the league.

“I told him I don’t care who you give your jersey to, I have to have it,” Edwards said. “He pretty much got everyone else out of the way and gave me the jersey. I appreciate him.”

🐜 x 😼 pic.twitter.com/oR9DbatCz9

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) October 14, 2024

“It just meant a lot to see him,” Towns said. “From day one, all I wanted was for him to do well and reach and exceed his potential in the NBA. Seeing the path he takes makes me proud.”

It doesn’t feel nearly normal when you see Towns in orange and blue, DiVincenzo with “Wolves” on his chest and Randle waiting in the wings on the Minnesota sideline, ready to make his first appearance sometime this week to compete with his new team.

Maybe the trash talk, the mugging and giving in will help everyone involved move on with their lives. There will be much more pomp and spectacle later this season when Towns returns to Minnesota on Dec. 19 and when Randle and DiVincenzo are back at Madison Square Garden for a regular-season game on Jan. 17.

Sometimes a small argument is enough to strengthen the bond between new teammates. DiVincenzo wants to focus less on the confrontation with his old team and more on the promising signs he sees with his new team. In his short time in Minnesota, he’s found a lot of people who play like him, which is already making him think about the possibilities.

“W“When you play hard and you’re willing to run through a wall,” he said, “and when you look around and you have four other guys willing to run through a wall, you can do special things as a team.” ”

(Photo by Donte DiVincenzo: David L. Nemec / NBAE via Getty Images)