Donte DiVincenzo’s return to Madison Square Garden was anything but easy. While preseason losses are never fun, things went off the rails post-game. A heated exchange between DiVincenzo and New York Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson—father of his close friend, Jalen Brunson—grabbed all the attention. As fans picked sides, calling it either a justified response or unnecessary drama, Jalen played it down as a “family fight.” But Knicks legend Carmelo Anthony stepped in, backing DiVincenzo and calling his reaction fair.

Speaking on his 7 PM in Brooklyn podcast, Carmelo Anthony left no room for doubt about where he stood. When asked if DiVincenzo’s reaction was appropriate, Melo said, “F–k it. Yeah, f–k it, DiVincenzo, like, I’m f–king, like, I’m on the other side now. Like, once we inside this rectangle, like, it’s war. Like, you know what I mean? it gets personal.” Bold words, considering Melo’s deep ties to the Knicks.

Melo also acknowledged DiVincenzo’s struggles after leaving his former team and friends behind, but added that winning changes everything. “You definitely in a position to win. For sure. I think it was even.” However, Melo’s support for DiVincenzo didn’t overshadow his respect for Rick Brunson. He chuckled as he admitted his fondness for the assistant coach’s colorful personality. “Rick is a nut… I love Rick. I love Rick. I know Rick. So I know Rick is a nut. And Rick’s sh–talking,” Melo said with a grin.

How did the drama start? It started with DiVincenzo taking a dig at Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau after a slick and-one floater. Heading to the line, he called out, “Can’t finish, right Thibs? Can’t finish, right?” Rick, clearly unimpressed, clapped back post-game, saying, “sucker s–t.” Not one to back down, DiVincenzo replied, “I was talking to Thibs… you wanna bring it out here for the camera?” 

What started as a Thibodeau jab turned into a spectacle. And while Papa Brunson fueled the flames, Melo’s verdict remains clear—DiVincenzo’s reaction was fair game.

Jalen Brunson called the feud a “family fight”

Speaking on The Roommates Show, Jalen addressed the drama that followed the Knicks’ 115-110 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Reflecting on the incident, Jalen kept it real: “I feel like we have to talk about it, you know, families fight.” He admitted emotions got the better of everyone involved. “Things are said. I mean, s–t should have been handled better on both sides, but everyone thinks the world’s crumbling.” But why did things escalate so quickly?

Jalen pointed to the timing of the matchup as a key factor. The recent trade sending DiVincenzo to the Timberwolves in exchange for Karl-Anthony Towns added an extra layer of tension. “I also feel like it (the trade) happened a week and a half ago, and all of a sudden we’re playing them. That never really happens,” he explained, underlining how the fast turnaround amplified the emotions on both sides.

As the Knicks gear up for the rest of the season, Jalen’s reflections shed light on the personal dynamics that fuel NBA rivalries. And while the drama might linger for fans, Jalen assured everyone that his friendship with DiVincenzo remains strong, no matter what.