Walt “Clyde” Frazier was surprised and mesmerized when he saw ex-Knick Donte DiVincenzo and assistant coach Rick Brunson arguing after a preseason game.
The Knicks legend told The Post that DiVincenzo had every right to be upset about being traded, but that’s not the time or place to let everyone know.
“I was shocked,” Frazier, who was commentating the game for the MSG television network, told The Post last week. “We didn’t focus on that, and I didn’t find out until after the game. But I’m sure DiVo was upset he got traded; I can’t blame him. Leaving New York is a downer.”
Frazier also told FanDuel’s “Run It Back” that he understands the feeling of being traded, as he was depressed when the Knicks dealt him to Cleveland in 1977.
DiVincenzo was seen yelling back and forth with Brunson, a Knicks assistant and the father of star guard Jalen, after he made a comment towards the Knicks bench while at the free throw line during the game.
“Sucka s–t man,” Rick Brunson told DiVincenzo, according to ESPN. “That was some sucka s–t.”
“You talked to me. I was talking to Thibs,” DiVincenzo said in response. “You want to bring it out here for the camera … That’s what happens when they let you run the show. Let Daddy be in charge.”
The contentious incident between Brunson and DiVincenzo occurred Oct. 13 during the final preseason game, two weeks after the sharpshooter was dealt along with Julius Randle for Karl-Anthony Towns.
Brunson landed an assistant coaching job with the Knicks when Jalen came over from the Mavericks.
DiVincenzo and Jalen have been close friends since playing together for Villanova, and as Frazier points out, the ugly scene was bad for everyone involved.
“But you can’t let the emotions get the better of you,” Frazier said. “Especially when you’re best friends [DiVincenzo] was in [Jalen’s] wedding. You know, that’s his father.”
Jalen played peacekeeper in the incident, attempting to pull DiVincenzo away on multiple occasions before tensions flared further and Timberwolves players separated the two.
Jalen later took to his podcast to express his frustration with the incident.
“I just wanted to address that families fight. Things were said. S–t should’ve been handled better on both sides, but here we are,” Brunson said on his “Roommates Show” podcast. “Everyone thinks the world’s crumbling. Everyone thinks. … It is what it is at this point. But I just feel like it should’ve been handled way better.”
The Knicks have started the season 1-1 — getting blown out by the defending champion Celtics on opening night before crushing the Pacers in a playoff rematch at Madison Square Garden.
