Alleged bandit accused of stealing memorabilia from Rick Pitino's office rants that he 'didn't take the basketball'

The New York City man accused of stealing memorabilia from the office of legendary St. John's University basketball coach Rick Pitino denied any involvement to The Post.

“I did not take the basketball,” Emanuel Yakubov, 25, told The Post as he was led in handcuffs to his arraignment in Queens court on Saturday.

But the basketball – a signed memorabilia – was just one of the items stolen in a clumsy robbery on Tuesday night.

Other stolen items included a ceremonial dagger and a megaphone, both of which were apparently carried by Yakubov and an accomplice in surveillance video footage outside Pitino's office, where they made little effort to conceal their identities.

A mask and numerous bottles of alcohol were also taken.

The accomplice appeared to be speaking openly on the phone as they walked through the hallways with stolen items in their hands.

Yakubov was arrested Friday evening by officers from the 107th Precinct. He is charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, third-degree criminal trespass, petty theft and third-degree burglary.

He was due to appear in court on Sunday.

“St. John's University is grateful for the NYPD's quick response and recovery of stolen property,” a St. John's spokesperson said after the arrest.

“The safety of our campus community is critical and our cooperative work with law enforcement helps ensure that.”

Pitino, who has coached the local school's men's basketball team since 2023, joked online that the only thing that bothered him was the theft of a bottle of wine that he said was worth over $1,500.

“Really mad! Taking my memorabilia is one thing, but the 6-litre Petrus Pomerol from 1985 makes me mad!!!” he wrote on X.