The Knicks' championship week now has an off-court issue attached to it.
Hackers have published data tied to the New York Knicks and Madison Square Garden online, Joseph Cox of 404 Media reported. The dump appeared just days after the Knicks won the NBA Finals in five games against the Spurs. A spokesperson for the hacking group said the hack took place on June 5.
404 Media reviewed a sample of the data. Cox reported that the files referenced specific sports teams and Knicks-related personalities. Some fields included "address," "claim to fame," "cost of talent," and, in some cases, contact information.
The full download is nearly 45GB, according to the report. The hacking group sent 404 Media a smaller sample, so confirmed details are limited to what the outlet reviewed.
Part of the sample reportedly included emails from customers to MSG and, in some cases, MSG's responses. One email came from a man complaining that he may have been flagged by MSG's facial recognition systems. That detail fits into the privacy backdrop around Madison Square Garden, Jim Dolan and the company's surveillance technology.
Another file reportedly had "Talent" in the filename. It included high-profile people from the sports world, including former Knicks players, former Knicks head coaches, family members of MSG executives and celebrities.
Ben Stiller was included in the file. He is one of the Knicks' most visible celebrity fans and attended recent NBA Finals games at Madison Square Garden. The listed contact information for Stiller was tied to Red Hour Films, his production company. The file labeled him "Low Risk," though 404 Media said it was unclear what that meant.
The same sample reportedly listed only one person as "High Risk": A Boogie wit da Hoodie.
There are still unknowns. The report does not establish that every file has been verified. It also does not explain the full scope of what systems were accessed or whether all listed contact details are current.
Still, the sample described by 404 Media is more than a routine cyber headline. It connects Knicks-related personalities, customer emails, possible contact information and MSG's security practices.
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