NEW YORK — The parent company of the New York Knicks apologized after using the promise of NBA championship rings as deceptive bait in an internal cybersecurity simulation, an incident executives acknowledged as an error following sharp public criticism.
As first reported by The Athletic, Madison Square Garden Sports sent corporate staff an email in late September congratulating them on their supposed employee rings and offering options between two designs dubbed “Championship Gold” and “Garden Classic.” However, employees who clicked the link were not securing commemorative jewelry. Instead, they were enrolled in mandatory digital security training for failing a corporate phishing test.
Extortion incident prompted heightened security
In statements addressing the exercise, MSG Sports defended the necessity of testing employees while conceding that using the championship reward crossed a line. The Knicks recently captured their first league title in 53 years, sparking massive celebrations throughout New York.
“MSG was recently hacked and extorted using an employee login and password obtained through a similar phishing attack,” an MSG Sports spokesperson told NBC News. “Using the rings as a lure to gain employees’ attention was an unfortunate mistake.”
The company pushed back on claims that non-player staff would be left empty-handed. In a statement obtained by USA TODAY Sports on Saturday, an MSG spokesperson described online rumors as “misinformation” and reaffirmed that the organization is distributing more than 275 rings and commemorative jewelry pieces, valued at more than $3.7 million, to players, coaches, staff members and associates.
“The plan has always been to distribute more than 275 rings and jewelry to the people in the organization who were part of last season’s success,” the spokesperson said in the statement, noting that while players received rings during opening night, other personnel routinely receive theirs four to six weeks later.
Scrutiny over ceremonies and workplace culture
The phishing campaign sparked immediate backlash from sports commentators and fans targeting Knicks owner James L. Dolan. NFL Network host Rich Eisen criticized Dolan on his broadcast, questioning how an employer could trick staff with a championship reward.
The controversy was compounded by details from Tuesday’s season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers. According to reporting by The Athletic, Knicks assistant coaches were presented with empty jewelry boxes during the pregame ring ceremony because their rings had not yet been fitted and finished. The outlet reported the coaches had been informed earlier that day that physical delivery would occur at a later date.
Workplace and cybersecurity experts have frequently cautioned against deceptive tests that trigger strong personal emotions. Guidance from the National Institute of Standards and Technology emphasizes that phishing simulations should serve as educational tools rather than punitive measures. Similar backlash hit web hosting provider GoDaddy in December 2020 after it tested workers with an offer of a $650 holiday bonus.
The Knicks started their 2026-27 campaign with an 0-2 record after back-to-back losses to Philadelphia and the Boston Celtics. The team is scheduled to host the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.
