Knicks admit to making ‘unfortunate mistake’, will spend more than $3.7 million on 275 championship rings for staff

The Knicks will give away 275 championship rings and jewelry to players, coaches and employees, worth more than $3.7 million, the team announced Friday.

A Madison Square Garden spokesperson released a statement in response to a report from The Athletic that assistant coaches were given empty boxes during Tuesday’s ring ceremony and company employees received a congratulatory email asking them to click on a link to choose a championship ring style. The link in the email, however, referred employees to a required cybersecurity course.

MSG acknowledged the error in its statement.

“The company previously sent an email to its corporate team to simulate a phishing attack intended to strengthen our security against hackers,” the MSG spokesperson said. “MSG was recently hacked and extorted using an employee ID and password obtained in a similar phishing attack. Using the rings as a lure to attract the attention of employees was an unfortunate mistake.

“The company is donating more than 275 championship rings and jewelry to players, coaches, staff and other members of the Knicks family, valued at more than $3.7 million, in recognition of their contributions and to celebrate this accomplishment.”

While players were presented with their championship rings by Knicks legend Walt Frazier during a pregame ceremony Tuesday, key assistant coaches — Rick Brunson, Chris Jent and Brendan O’Connor — received ornate boxes that were empty, according to the report.

Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and NBA, as well as nearly every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.