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Knicks Backup Named Award Favorite

The New York Knicks have a potential award winner in Donte DiVincenzo.

Jeremy Brener

May 19, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) brings the ball up court against the Indiana Pacers during the third quarter of game seven of the second round of the 2024 NBA playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
May 19, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) brings the ball up court against the Indiana Pacers during the third quarter of game seven of the second round of the 2024 NBA playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
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New York Knicks forward Donte DiVincenzo is expected to go back to the bench to start the upcoming season after finishing last year with the starters.

DiVincenzo, 27, started 63 games for the Knicks last season, joining the starting lineup in early December to replace the struggling Quentin Grimes.

Grimes was traded in February to the Detroit Pistons and that solidified DiVincenzo's place in the starting five. However, with the team trading for his college teammate Mikal Bridges, DiVincenzo is expected to go back to the bench and lead the second unit. The Athletic insider Fred Katz believes DiVincenzo can be a Sixth Man of the Year candidate if he can bring the same energy he had last season to this one.

"He performed well as a reserve during the beginning part of last season but took off once he joined the starters. Does he carry that swagger into the second unit? If so, he has a good argument as the NBA Sixth Man of the Year favorite," Katz writes.

DiVincenzo averaged a career-best 15.5 points per game this past season with the Knicks and shot just over 40 percent from distance. He also played pretty frequently, averaging just over 29 minutes per game, which was also a career-high.

The Knicks had a number of injuries throughout the year that DiVincenzo often found himself as one of the best five players on the roster night in and night out. But considering the fact that the team is deeper this year, DiVincenzo may not be in that position often with the Knicks this season.

DiVincenzo has a decent amount of experience coming off the bench, so it should help him as his role transitions from the starting lineup to the reserves. That should help him tremendously as he seeks the Sixth Man of the Year honors.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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