An offer to select their own New York Knicks championship rings turned out to be a harsh lesson in cybersecurity for some Madison Square Garden employees.
MSG staffers received an email in September appearing to allow them to reserve one of two ring variants to commemorate the Knicks' 2026 title, sources told Joe Vardon of The Athletic. However, the email was actually a phishing test; employees who clicked the link in the message were apparently mandated to take a cybersecurity class because of Knicks owner James Dolan's increasing concerns about the issue.
The phishing test read: "(Employee name), this one is on the house. MSG is issuing a complimentary employee championship ring. The same jeweler, the same craftsmanship, personalized with your name. No cost to you.
"There are two designs to choose from: Championship Gold and Garden Classic. Reserve the one you want below."
MSG Sports confirmed that employees received the phishing email but said that using championship rings "as a lure ... was an unfortunate mistake," per Ian Begley of SNY. The company said it simulated the phishing attempt after a similar attack successfully obtained an employee's username and password, resulting in MSG being hacked and extorted.
Most NBA team employees usually receive some version of a championship ring. However, many longtime MSG employees, and even some Knicks business operations employees, aren't going to receive Knicks rings at all, sources told Vardon.
MSG Sports did not confirm which employees specifically would receive rings but said it expected to dole out more 275 of them.
"The company is gifting more than 275 championship rings and jewelry to players, coaches, employees and other members of the Knicks family, worth more than $3.7 million, in recognition of their contributions and celebrating this achievement," the statement continued.
Meanwhile, Knicks assistant coaches took part in New York's banner-raising ceremony Tuesday, but they reportedly received empty boxes that did not contain their rings. However, those assistants are still expected to receive them at a later date. Oklahoma City Thunder assistants and some executives didn't receive their rings on opening night last season either.
