New York Knicks 2023-24 Player Preview: What Does Donte DiVincenzo Bring?
Autumn in New York ... from a basketball perspective, it's finally inviting.
The New York Knicks return to action on Wednesday night against the Boston Celtics (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) in a game that will officially open one of the more anticipated seasons in recent metropolitan memory. New York is coming off its most successful NBA season in a decade, winning 47 games and a playoff series for the first time since 2013.
With tip-off looming, All Knicks will analyze and preview what's to come for the major contributors on the blue-and-orange roster. Part III turns to one of the newest Knicks, Donte DiVincenzo ...
DiVincenzo, seen during the 2023 preseason, was the headlining import of the Knicks' offseason
Bob DeChiara, USA TODAY SPORTS
Player Profile
Name: Donte DiVincenzo
Position: Guard
Height/Weight: 6-4, 203 lbs.
College: Villanova
Experience: 6th season (1st with Knicks)
The Story So Far
When it comes to fitting in with the star-crossed nature of the new-century Knicks, DiVincenzo might already fit in without a single metropolitan minute to his name: as it stands, DiVincenzo is the only member of the Knicks' active roster with championship jewelry, earning a ring with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021.
Alas for the "Michael Jordan of Delaware," he missed the entire run to the Finals due to an ankle injury and became expendable once Milwaukee's backcourt depth stars (i.e. Pat Connaughton, Bryn Forbes, Grayson Allen) effectively filled his minutes, he became expendable and was traded to Sacramento.
Since his costly injury, DiVincenzo has tried to reclaim the narrative of his NBA career. At the time he went down, DiVincenzo was averaging 10.4 points, shooting just under 38 percent from three-point range, and playing stellar defense. He spent last season in Golden State and played 72 games.
It took a while for him to rediscover his defensive prowess but he set new personal bests from deep (150 successful attempts, 39.7 percent success rate). Originally signed to a two-year deal, DiVincenzo opted to bet on himself by declining the relative assurance of a $4.7 million player option. The move paid off in a literal sense, as the Knicks came calling on a four-year deal worth as much as $50 million in an attempt to fill their Villanova gauntlet.
They Said It
“My focus is to win games. Whether I’m starting or coming off the bench, my focus is to win games. I signed a four-year deal here. I plan to be here long term and ultimately I’m playing a lot of games here with these guys - whether it’s the starting lineup or the closing lineup. Whatever it is, I trust Thibs’ decision-making and go from there.”-DiVincenzo on the idea of breaking into the starting five (h/t Ian Begley, SNY)
“Donte’s got an incredible work ethic and basketball IQ. He’s one of those guys on the different teams he’s played for, whatever they need him to do, he can do. I know with Milwaukee, he spread the ball, set screens, defended, rebounded, even from the guard spot. With Golden State, he shot a little bit more, scored a little bit more ... He’s one of those guys that’s going to do whatever the team needs him to do and he enjoys that. He did that for us and he’s done that at every NBA team he was on.”-former Villanova head coach Jay Wright (h/t Ethan Sears, New York Post)
2023-24 Forecast
Far and away the headlining of the Knicks' offseason, the pressure's immediately raised on DiVincenzo, even if his four-year deal hints at a slight project nature. The Knicks made few, if any, further adjustments as they prepare to build upon their most successful season in a decade.
Conventional knowledge suggests that DiVincenzo's outside shooting will be the main attraction, especially considering the fact that the Knicks' season ended with a brutal 29 percent effort from deep in the six-game closer against Miami. During the 2019-20 season, his defensive rating of 101.3 was third in the Association and second-best in Milwaukee behind only Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Knicks' interior defensive picture is well-spoken for thanks to Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson but DiVincenzo could be the hidden spark the backcourt needs.
DiVincenzo may wear No. 0 on his new Knicks jersey. His impact, however, could be innumerable.
