Knicks Owners Respond to Backlash They Didn't Put a Ring On It After Phishing Email to Employees

The Knicks organization is on defense after a corporate airball. 

Months after the New York team's NBA title win against the San Antonio Spurs June 13, the team's owner MSG Sports confirmed employees who support the team at Madison Square Garden received a phishing test that falsely offered staff a fitting for a championship ring. 

"The company had previously sent out an email to its corporate team as a simulation of a phishing attack designed to strengthen our security against hackers," an MSG Sports spokesman told E! News Oct. 23. "MSG was recently hacked and extorted using an employee login and password obtained through a similar phishing attack."

Still, the company—which also operates the Garden—acknowledged that implementing the security exercise was a misstep.

As the statement said, "Using the rings as a lure to gain employees attention was an unfortunate mistake."

But as the Knicks aim to bounce back with their corporate teammates, they're also on the rebound from a foul with assistant coaching staff. According to The Athletic, key leadership who helped players like Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns clinch game five were given empty boxes with no commemorative jewelry inside at an Oct. 20 ceremony.