Once again the crowd at Madison Square Garden stood up to salute Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo like the Knicks played a tribute video to the former players during New York’s preseason matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Back at MSG for the first time since the Knicks dealt the duo Minnesota in agreement for Karl-Anthony Townsthe pair received a standing ovation from Knicks fans as their service to the club was honored.
And that feeling was mutual.
Speaking to reporters before the game, DiVincenzo took time to thank Knicks fans and show his appreciation for them, after announcing reports that he was “unhappy” about his possible role title into the year as “false”.
“My love for Knicks fans is through the roof. I said it like it was one of the best years of my life playing here last year,” DiVincenzo said Sunday. “It’s something you dream about. [doing]. 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 have to separate the business aspect and then with the fans. I think the fans will always have a special place in my heart. And also playing here, just being here, having the energy here, it’s second only to no one. So a lot of people showed it to me. You can’t even describe it. I don’t know how to get back to all the fans and everything, so we just give thanks because they’re amazing.”
Randle appeared in 330 games (all starts) for New York during his five seasons here, making the playoffs in three of five seasons. DiVincenzo played just one season, posting a 50-32 record with the Knicks in 2023-24.
When asked about his favorite memory with the Knicks, DiVincenzo chose his game-winning three-pointer in Game 2 of the first round against the Philadelphia 76ers.
“I think the reason is not because of the game, because of the situation, the reason is because the floor was shaking,” he said. “We were in the break and the floor was shaking and I’ve never been a part of anything like that.”
DiVincenzo also received a standing ovation when he was introduced among the T-Wolves starters.
Randle, who is continuing his rehab from a shoulder injury that limited his final season in New York, did not dress for the game and has yet to play in some of Minnesota’s preseason games.
