Knicks Beef: Donte DiVincenzo & Co. bring the heat to MSG

The Wolves spat so much smack talk that we had to cook a special Knicks Bulletin.

I was minding my business and cool putting together a whole lot of quotes emerging from Sunday’s preseason (yes, pre-season) matchup between the Knicks and the Wolves for today’s edition of our Knicks Bulletin when I took a quick look at the word count.

To my surprise, it was dangerously close to 2,000 words, which is something you’d expect from Game 7 of the NBA Finals, not a silly and meaningless exhibition smacked right in the middle of October.

Turns out this thing wasn’t just another game for former Knickerbocker Donte DiVincenzo.

So here we are today, Oct. 14, putting out the usual Knicks Bulletin and this special “Knicks Beef” edition of it featuring DiVo, fellow-former-NYK Julius Randle, and Wolves’ face-of-the-franchise Anthony Edwards.

Enjoy.

Donte DiVincenzo (Minnesota Timberwolves Player)

On the verbal exchange with Rick Brunson after the game:

“Just some words. I don’t fully know what was said. A lot of people there. But I really have no comment on the situation. We’re both grown men and can talk about it privately.”

On the verbal exchange with Tom Thibodeau at the free-throw line:

“I didn’t say ‘Thanks for the trade.’ It was about a finish, I was joking with Thibs about not being able to finish.

“He was giving me a hard time. I didn’t say anything about the trade, and that was it.”

On playing at Madison Square Garden:

“I’m not extra motivated (by the trade). It’s just the fact, take the team out of it, that I get to play in [Madison Square] Garden.

“I have so much love for these fans. The energy in there is absolutely amazing. That’s where the energy and motivation comes from. It has nothing to do with [the trade].”

On rumors of unhappiness before the trade:

“Take the Villanova s— out of it. I was super excited [to play for the Knicks this season] because we have a very good player coming back to the team. And you get OG [Anunoby] back, now you’re looking at, ‘Wow we’re going to be really good.’ There was never a conversation of my role being diminished.”

On shouting “That’s what happens when they let you run the show?”:

“It was in the general direction [of the Knicks bench]. Obviously, they have me on video saying it.

“And I’m not there anymore. I play, I’m competitive, I wear my heart on my sleeve and that’s all it was.”

On being traded to Minnesota:

“I was at home when I heard about the trade. And when it went down, I kind of heard rumors of what was going on.

“The only thing that made sense for me was [going to] Minnesota. Initially, you never want to get traded. So I was kind of upset, I was kind of hurt. And my mind went right to [the Timberwolves].

“It was an easy transition. There were no angry feelings, no mad feelings, nothing like that. It was an initial, ‘Damn I got traded.’ And you move on to the next thing.

“It was all love.”

On his memories as a Knick and the Game 2 winner against Philly:

“The reason why [my game-winning three in the playoffs is my favorite memory] is not because of the game, [it’s] because of the situation.

“The floor was shaking. We were in the timeout and the floor was shaking. I’ve never been a part of something like that. I really wanted that second shot because I missed the first one.

“I was like ‘Bro, Knicks fans are not going to let me live this down if I don’t get this one back.’ That’s by far the No. 1 memory.”

Julius Randle (Minnesota Timberwolves Player)

On advice for Karl-Anthony Towns about handling expectations:

“Just think of basketball. Just stay locked in. Stay in the moment.

“This place tends to make things bigger than what it may seem like at the time.”

On whether or not he left unfinished business in New York:

“(New York) is finished now. I’ve got unfinished business where I’m at.”

On his preferred role as a playmaker instead of a scorer:

“I’ve always liked to say I’m more of a passer than a scorer. That’s what I genuinely like to do. That’s how I grew up playing basketball.

“The situation here in New York, [Tom Thibodeau] needed me to score more, and I took on that responsibility.

“But I enjoy playmaking. That’s what I enjoy doing.”

On what he will miss about New York:

“This place right here, man. Just the fans, from a basketball standpoint, the fans, playing in the Garden.

“Hearing my young guy [Wolves rookie Rob Dillingham] come in and say, ‘These lights are different. This court is different.’ Just like, ‘Yeah, man.’

“It was a blessing to play here every night.”

Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves Player)

On Donte DiVincenzo’s addition to the Wolves:

“Incredible. I don’t even need the ball. I’m having fun, it’s fun to play with Donte. I haven’t even got to play with Julius yet, so we’ll see how that looks like.

“But playing with Donte is fun as hell.”

On DiVincenzo’s performance on Sunday:

“He’s motivated every night, even when I used to play against him. He’s aggressive with everything he does. You can’t be mad at him, man. He makes all the right plays and shoots the cover off the ball.

“I know New York is going to miss him.”