New York Knicks slammed after offering employees NBA championship rings in what turned out to be a phishing test

The New York Knicks faced backlash after mistakenly offering employees complimentary NBA championship rings, which were later revealed to be part of a phishing test. The deceptive email, circulated in late September, promised personalized championship rings to employees and required those who accepted to complete cybersecurity training instead.

The incident occurred following the team's historic victory in 2022, making the promised jewellery particularly significant for employees. Madison Square Garden admitted the mistake, describing the use of championship jewellery as bait as an "unfortunate mistake." The organization explained that the security concerns stemmed from a previous cyberattack where employee credentials were compromised through a similar fraudulent communication.

As a result, the Knicks plan to distribute over 275 commemorative items, including championship rings valued at more than $3.7 million, among players, coaches, and other individuals associated with the franchise.