Donte DiVincenzo's Neutral 'Motto' Leads New York Knicks Journey
Donte DiVincenzo doesn't have a date for the 41 homecoming dances at Madison Square Garden this year.
Much has been made about the Villanova Wildcat litter that the New York Knicks have grown over the offseason. DiVincenzo was part of the Knicks' summer ledgers along with Josh Hart (extended for the next five years) and fellow free agent Ryan Arcidiacono. The transactional trio joins last year's prized import Jalen Brunson to form what many are referring to as the "'Nova Knicks," a band of Jay Wright's finest proteges that earned countless high-profile victories at MSG through victorious runs at the Big East Men's Basketball Tournament.
But DiVincenzo knows what Arcidiacono, Brunson, and Hart work. He wants to build a rapport with his new teammates over the training camp and preseason.
"I like to personally try to develop each relationship with every single guy, coaches, and everything,” DiVincenzo told Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. “Even in training camp, try to sit with as many different guys as possible, not start this whole ’Nova thing.”
“I’m Donte, he’s Josh, he’s Jalen. We’re all developing our relationships with everybody on the floor.”
In other words, make new friends, but keep the old.
DiVIncenzo spent last season with the Golden State Warriors
John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
If anything, DiVincenzo could use a sense of familiarity: since entering the league fresh off a Most Outstanding Player run in the Wildcats' 2018 national championship trek as Milwaukee's first-round pick, the "Michael Jordan of Delaware" has racked up the miles over the past two years. He spent three-plus seasons with the Bucks (winning a ring while injured in 2021) before he was dealt to Sacramento at 2022's deadline. DiVincenzo spent last season with the Golden State Warriors, shooting a career-best 39.7 percent from three-point range.
Reports from Knicks camp in Charleston indicate that DiVincenzo is making the desired first impression on non-Nova personnel.
"You’re getting a young veteran who’s had experiences. He’s got deep playoff experience," head coach Tom Thibodeau said, per Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News. "He’s a gym rat. He fits in perfectly with our team ... just play(s) to our strengths, learn your teammates. He’s fit in seamlessly thus far.”
Is it enough for DiVincenzo to inch his way into the starting five? Time will tell, but it's far from his top priority.
“I’m not worried about averaging whatever and doing all this and getting accolades, because I know if we’re winning games everybody is gonna eat,” DiVincenzo said. “The young guys, the old guys last longer in the league, the coaches, everybody eats when everybody is selfless, and the ultimate goal is to win games. So, that’s always been my motto. (I'm) going on year six (of my career), so it’s working so far.”
DiVincenzo's unofficial Knicks debut will land on Monday night when MSG hosts the 2023 preseason opener against the Boston Celtics (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG).
