"Let dad be the coach" - Alleged leaked audio shows Donte DiVincenzo trashing Tom Thibodeau & Rick Brunson in heated exchange

Donte DiVincenzo, a guard with the Minnesota Timberwolves, had a fierce preseason game against the New York Knicks. After the game, DiVincenzo and Jalen Brunson's father, assistant coach Rick Brunson, got into a heated argument.

On Sunday, the Wolves and the Knicks played against each other for the first time since the Karl-Anthony Towns trade. Before Media Days began for the rest of the league, Towns was traded to the Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle and DiVincenzo. Although it was only a preseason game, the atmosphere was different.

The trash-talking happened during DiVo's lone trip to the free-throw line. He drew a foul and got the and-one but words were being exchanged between him and the Knicks' coaching staff.

Initially, it was thought that the shooting guard was talking smack to his former teammate, Jalen, but lengthier footage showed that he was talking to the coaching staff.

First, he talked to head coach Tom Thibodeau.

"Can't finish, right Thibs?" he asked. "Can't finish, right?"

Next, it was the phrase allegedly addressed to Rick.

"That's what happens when they let you run the show. Let dad be the coach," he added.

In the video, the Knicks' assistant coach confronted the former player. However, DiVincenzo clarified that he was talking to Thibodeau, the head coach. The next sequence was inaudible but it showed footage of the two going at each other. The two had to be separated at the end of the game.

Also read: Knicks fans react to Donte DiVincenzo's trade revelation - "This is why he beefing with Thibs and Brunson’s dad"

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Donte DiVincenzo clarified what he told his former coach at the free-throw line

There was countless speculation on what Donte DiVincenzo said to the coaching staff at the free-throw line. One of the rumors that quickly spread was he was talking to Thibs about the trade.

After the game, however, the guard shut down the misleading information and told reporters that he was joking with his former head coach.

"I didn’t say thanks for the trade. It was about a finish, I was joking with Thibs about not being able to finish,” DiVincenzo said. “He was giving me a hard time. I didn’t say anything about the trade, and that was it."

DiVo shared in the locker room at the end of the game about his "that's what happens when they let you run the show" comment. He shared that it wasn't directed at someone specifically. The 2021 champion also shared that he has nothing but love for the Knicks organization.

He finished with 15.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in his only season in New York.

Also read: Donte DiVincenzo discusses fiery encounter with Jalen Brunson's dad Rick Brunson: "That’s a separate relationship"