Donte DiVincenzo’s return to New York, where he has gained a loyal following, started off positively but turned tense during a preseason matchup between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the New York Knicks this past Sunday.

As he was introduced, DiVincenzo received a warm welcome from Knicks fans in his first appearance back in New York following a trade to the Timberwolves over the summer. He opened the scoring with a three-pointer.

Throughout the game, there was some playful exchange between DiVincenzo and the Knicks bench while he was taking free throws.

However, things escalated when DiVincenzo and Knicks assistant Rick Brunson had to be pulled apart as both teams were exiting the court.

When asked about the incident, DiVincenzo mentioned he was joking with Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau while at the free-throw line close to the Knicks bench. But Brunson—who is also the father of Knicks star Jalen Brunson—did not seem to share that perspective.

DiVincenzo chose not to elaborate on the conflict with Brunson but emphasized that his bond with his former Villanova and Knicks teammate remains strong.

“My relationship with Jalen is solid; he’s my brother and my best friend,” DiVincenzo stated. “That’s separate from this situation. I’ll handle that privately and sort it out. It is what it is.”

Last season, DiVincenzo had a career-high average of 15.5 points per game and set a record for 3-pointers made while with the Knicks.

Earlier this month, he and All-Star forward Julius Randle were traded to the Timberwolves in a major three-team deal that brought center Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks.