NEW YORK — Madison Square Garden staff members hoping to celebrate the New York Knicks’ first championship in over five decades were recently deceived by an internal phishing simulation promising complimentary championship jewelry, according to a report published Thursday by The Athletic.
Instead of receiving a ring, employees who clicked the embedded link were directed to enroll in a mandatory cybersecurity class, The Athletic’s Joe Vardon reported. The test was orchestrated as part of company efforts to address owner James Dolan’s cybersecurity concerns.
A simulated offer and an empty box
The deceptive email arrived in inboxes in September under the subject line notifying workers that their employee championship ring was ready. The message told staff that the ring was “on the house” and promised the same jeweler and personalized craftsmanship given to the team, offering recipients a choice between two designs labeled “Championship Gold” and “Garden Classic,” according to copies obtained by The Athletic.
Those who attempted to claim the jewelry discovered it was merely a test. Adding to the frustration, many longtime arena employees and business operations personnel will not be receiving championship rings at all, sources told the outlet.
The jewelry confusion also spilled onto the court during Tuesday’s pregame ceremony ahead of the season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers. While players such as Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and Jose Alvarado received their diamond-encrusted rings alongside head coach Mike Brown, the team’s assistant coaches were handed empty boxes, The Athletic reported.
Assistant coaches had been notified earlier Tuesday that their rings would arrive later because sizing measurements and orders had not yet been completed. According to the report, reactions among the assistant coaches ranged from annoyance to genuine anger.
Unusual ring night procedures
Spreading ring distribution across multiple dates is not entirely without precedent. The Oklahoma City Thunder delayed ring distribution for assistant coaches and certain front-office executives following their 2025 title, Vardon reported. However, unlike the Knicks, the Thunder did not hand out empty presentation cases during their public ceremony.
Tuesday’s festivities at Madison Square Garden marked New York’s first NBA title celebration in 53 years, following a five-game victory over the San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 NBA Finals. Yet the evening featured other deviations from standard league protocol.
Knicks legend Walt Frazier presented the jewelry to players rather than NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who typically delivers remarks and distributes rings. Silver sat across the court in an ordinary seat, while figures including NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and musician Jon Bon Jovi stood near presenter Mike Breen, according to Yahoo Sports. Dolan and Silver have experienced a strained relationship in recent years.
When asked about the situation, an MSG Sports spokesperson declined to provide details, telling The Athletic, “We are not disclosing anything about the rings.”
It remains unclear precisely when the assistant coaches will receive their championship rings, or whether the organization intends to offer any alternative commemorative gifts to excluded business employees.
