After backlash over the scheme, the team says it will hand out more than 275 real rings worth $3.7 million.
Madison Square Garden Sports, which owns the Knicks, confirmed this week that an email offering employees a personalized championship ring was actually bait in a simulated phishing attack. A spokesperson said the email was sent to the corporate team "as a simulation of a phishing attack designed to strengthen our security against hackers."
The admission followed a report from The Athletic detailing the September email, which went to Madison Square Garden employees and asked some who clicked the link to attend a cybersecurity class instead of getting a ring. Assistant coaches were caught up in the fallout too, receiving empty ring boxes during the team's opening-night title ceremony this week rather than their actual rings.
The Knicks have since called the phishing test an "unfortunate mistake" and announced a reversal: more than 275 rings will go out to players, coaches, employees and other members of the Knicks family, at a reported cost of $3.7 million. A league source said assistant coaches will get their real rings shortly, insisting the distribution of 275 rings was the plan all along.