Knicks Ring Night Turns Awkward: Phishing Email, Empty Ring Boxes and Dalton Knecht

Ring night is supposed to be the best night of a championship season. For the New York Knicks, it came with a side of embarrassment.

The Phishing Email

Employees in Knicks business operations and at Madison Square Garden received an email that appeared to offer them the chance to claim an NBA championship ring. It was not real. The message was a phishing test, the kind of fake email companies send to see whether staff will click on suspicious links.

Using a championship ring as bait during the week of the actual ring ceremony did not go over well. A Madison Square Garden spokesman admitted fault, calling it "an unfortunate mistake."

Empty Boxes for the Coaches

The awkwardness did not stop there. During the opening-night ceremony, Knicks assistant coaches reportedly received empty ring boxes, with their actual rings delayed. For staff who helped deliver the title, it was a strange way to celebrate.

Neither incident takes anything away from what the team accomplished on the court, but both became two of the most talked-about stories of opening week.

Knicks Add Dalton Knecht

On the basketball side, New York made a move that could pay off. Former Lakers first-round pick Dalton Knecht agreed to a two-way contract with the Knicks, his agents told ESPN.

• Knecht, 25, was the No. 17 pick in his draft class.
• He showed real promise as a shooter during his rookie season in Los Angeles.
• The Lakers waived him to create roster space ahead of their season opener.

For a deep team like the Knicks, Knecht is a low-risk bet on a proven shooter who just needs the right situation.

A Big Week Across the NBA

The Knicks' ring-night drama was just one storyline in a wild opening week. Giannis Antetokounmpo debuted in Miami, LaMelo Ball joined Minnesota and plenty of stars landed in new places. Catch up with our Giannis Heat debut recap and our Bulls vs. Bucks preview.

Follow the defending champions all season in our NBA coverage.