MSG Used Knicks Championship Rings in a Phishing Test, Calling It an “Unfortunate Mistake”

Madison Square Garden sports organization employees were offered what appeared to be a free New York Knicks championship ring in an email that was actually a phishing test, according to The Athletic.

Employees Were Offered a Choice of Knicks Championship Rings

“Rings can take time to order, design and measure, and not every defending champion coaching staff will have a ring on ring night,” The Athletic’s Mike Verdon wrote. Knicks assistant coaches were told they would eventually receive championship rings, but many longtime Madison Square Garden employees—including those working in Knicks business operations—will not receive one, team officials told the publication.

In late September, MSG sent an email to a long list of employees showing graphics of two possible ring designs. Recipients were invited to choose between “Championship Gold” and “Garden Classic.”

“(Employee name), this is on the house. MSG is issuing a free employee championship ring. Same jeweler, same craftsmanship, personalize it with your name. No cost to you,” the email said. “We have two designs to choose from: Championship Gold and Garden Classic. Reserve your desired design below.”

MSG Confirmed the Email Was a Phishing Test

Multiple team sources confirmed to Verdon that the email was a phishing test. It remains unclear how many employees clicked the link or how many employees will ultimately receive a championship ring.

We contacted Madison Square Garden’s sports organization with questions but did not receive an answer. After this article was published, however, an MSG spokesperson told The New York Post that using the championship ring as a phishing decoy was an “unfortunate mistake” and outlined plans to distribute rings and jewelry to members of the Knicks organization.

“MSG was recently hacked and extorted using employee login names and passwords obtained in a similar phishing attack. Using the ring as a decoy to get the employee’s attention was an unfortunate mistake,” the organization said in a statement.

MSG Plans to Give Out More Than 275 Rings and Jewelry

MSG told the Post that it will “present more than 275 championship rings and jewelry valued at more than $3.7 million to players, coaches, employees and other members of the Knicks family to honor their contributions and celebrate this accomplishment.”

This article has been updated to reflect MSG’s statement to The New York Post.