Villanova coaching legend reacts to Knicks’ latest trade

New York’s acquisition of Mikal Bridges continues the team’s remarkable transformation into the “Nova Knicks,” giving them a fourth member of the 2016 NCAA championship-winning Villanova squad. The quartet of Bridges, Donte DiVincenzo, Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart also spent the 2016-17 season together before Hart graduated.

The oldest of the group took to social media on Tuesday night to celebrate his reunion with yet another college teammate. Hart also disregarded Miami Heat star center Bam Adebayo’s accusation that Brunson and Hart were tampering in trade negotiations.

Following seven seasons with Hofstra, Wright arrived to lead the Wildcats for the 2001-02 season, well before any of the core four arrived.

After missing the NCAA Tournament from 2002-04, the 62-year-old led Villanova to seven consecutive March Madness berths through the 2010-11 campaign, including a Final Four run in 2009.

Hart arrived for the 2013-14 season and the rest of the trio joined him two years later.

Bridges, Brunson and DiVincenzo led the Wildcats to another title in 2018 before entering the NBA Draft.

Wright brought Villanova to another Final Four in 2022 before they fell to Kansas and the six-time Big East Coach of the Year retired.