The [New York Knicks](https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2Fnba%2Fteam%2Fknicks%2F) guard has always drained 3-pointers. He’s always been active, a pest with the bravado to keep chucking them up, even in moments when his jumper was a smidge funky. But the way defenses hounded DiVincenzo over the final few weeks leading into the All-Star break — that was new.
Finally, the bug bit DiVincenzo, who sat out the Magic game because of a hamstring injury he suffered Monday in Houston.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau said he expects DiVincenzo, Hartenstein and Bogdanović back when the Knicks play next, which isn’t until Feb. 22. But even once all three return, basketball won’t be so easygoing.
Randle, Anunoby and Robinson still have more time in street clothes ahead. DiVincenzo has emerged in their absence. And the league has noticed.
Opponents pick up DiVincenzo at half court. For two hours every other night, palms angle themselves just in front of his nose. Guarding one of the league’s most particular marksmen is no longer about forcing difficult shots; it’s about keeping the ball away from him altogether.
Not everyone has succeeded.
DiVincenzo is averaging 26.5 points and 4.0 assists since Anunoby and Randle exited the lineup on Jan. 29. He’s at 40 percent from 3-point distance in those eight games — and it’s not like he’s been picky.
“I think it’s his best stretch of basketball,” Thibodeau said.
And now, defenses won’t leave him alone, which has meant a return to the drawing board.
“There were a couple of games I was getting frustrated where they were denying me almost at half court,” DiVincenzo said. “Especially when Julius is out, we’re a man down, Jalen (Brunson) is doing a lot of pick-and-roll and when I’m off the ball, they’re face guarding and denying.”
This is not the same DiVincenzo as the one who excelled as a role player in Milwaukee, Sacramento and Golden State. Heck, it’s not even the same one who knocked down better than two of every five 3s over the first couple months of this season.
JNerdGaming
bring out the tomato sauce!
mount_and_bladee
I really hope they don’t trade this man. Feel like there’s no way with the Brunson connection, but he’s been so damn good, he’s played himself into being one of our top trade chips
realmatic2e
What’s crazy is that the front office bought him in to replace Quickleys production, but tbh he’s been playing better than him as he fits a role the team needs.
Not a shot at Quickley!
firstbreathOOC
Hard to believe this guy turned into a star so quickly. When JB and the other guys went down it was almost obvious that Donte was gonna go ahead and get 30. And that’s exactly what happened.
TYSON_KCV
I’ll get downvoted for this but I don’t give a fuck.
Donte’s emergence, the arrival of OG, the development of McBride and the ascension of Precious makes Josh Hart expendable.
Out of all those played Josh offers the least, and you can talk me about intangibles and blah blah, the fact is you can’t be playing a guy who averages 7 PPG as much as you.
hoagiewawa
He has vastly exceeded my expectations, which were already high to begin with. I cannot wait till everyone is healthy and we can finally see this team at full strength.
Howcanitbeeeeeeenow
This was a fantastic article that really dove into what Donte is doing and how his numbers have improved. Thanks for sharing!
GoldenBoyRecords
Interesting thing will be when everyone is healthy what Dontes minutes will look like. Imo he should be 4th in mins behind Brunson, OG, Randle. I dont think you can blitz Brunson the way we been seeing with teams do with Josh Hart on the floor because of Dontes shooting.
WhoTookPlasticJesus
This was one of the more interesting points for me:
> Brunson is driving to the basket 24.5 times a game during the nine games without Randle and Anunoby, per Second Spectrum, the second most in the NBA during that time and up from 17.6 before it. Yet, the sharpest difference on the team belongs to DiVincenzo, who is driving four times more often since Randle got hurt.
10 Comments
# Knicks’ Donte DiVincenzo is filling the stat sheet and now attracting attention
[Fred Katz](https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2Fauthor%2Ffred-katz%2F)Feb 16, 2024
ORLANDO, Fla. — [Donte DiVincenzo](https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2Fnba%2Fplayer%2Fdonte-divincenzo-5yeG2wUB9RTaEEGd%2F) isn’t used to this much attention.
The [New York Knicks](https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2Fnba%2Fteam%2Fknicks%2F) guard has always drained 3-pointers. He’s always been active, a pest with the bravado to keep chucking them up, even in moments when his jumper was a smidge funky. But the way defenses hounded DiVincenzo over the final few weeks leading into the All-Star break — that was new.
At least now, he can rest.
DiVincenzo was one of six Knicks rotation players who were out during [Wednesday’s 118-100 loss](https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2Fnba%2Fgame%2Fnew-york-knicks-vs-orlando-magic%2FO17GA3LCefs33DYc%2F) to the [Orlando Magic](https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2Fnba%2Fteam%2Fmagic%2F), which closed the first half of New York’s season. Injuries have ravaged this group. [Mitchell Robinson](https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2Fnba%2Fplayer%2Fmitchell-robinson-w8R3xsrQqLB0GSYj%2F) (ankle), [Julius Randle](https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2Fnba%2Fplayer%2Fjulius-randle-ZOBqK4RMFKL7YI2Q%2F) (shoulder) and [OG Anunoby](https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2Fnba%2Fplayer%2Fog-anunoby-QdEOH7cdW2HOrPHU%2F) (elbow) are sidelined for weeks — or, in Robinson’s case, months. [Isaiah Hartenstein](https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2Fnba%2Fplayer%2Fisaiah-hartenstein-hjMEcIELScZcAVNC%2F) (Achilles) and [Bojan Bogdanović](https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2Fnba%2Fplayer%2Fbojan-bogdanovic-TtD4HPxVGnoaeLuy%2F) (calf) have joined them at the doctor’s office.
Finally, the bug bit DiVincenzo, who sat out the Magic game because of a hamstring injury he suffered Monday in Houston.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau said he expects DiVincenzo, Hartenstein and Bogdanović back when the Knicks play next, which isn’t until Feb. 22. But even once all three return, basketball won’t be so easygoing.
Randle, Anunoby and Robinson still have more time in street clothes ahead. DiVincenzo has emerged in their absence. And the league has noticed.
Opponents pick up DiVincenzo at half court. For two hours every other night, palms angle themselves just in front of his nose. Guarding one of the league’s most particular marksmen is no longer about forcing difficult shots; it’s about keeping the ball away from him altogether.
Not everyone has succeeded.
DiVincenzo is averaging 26.5 points and 4.0 assists since Anunoby and Randle exited the lineup on Jan. 29. He’s at 40 percent from 3-point distance in those eight games — and it’s not like he’s been picky.
DiVincenzo won’t stop shooting; he’s splashing in 5.3 long-range makes on more than 13 attempts a game. Both figures place him second in the [NBA](https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2Fnba%2F) to the ageless [Stephen Curry](https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2Fnba%2Fplayer%2Fstephen-curry-toS7DgUD3IIt7uds%2F) during this time. And he won’t stop playing. His 40.4 minutes a night are second in the league to teammate [Precious Achiuwa](https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2Fnba%2Fplayer%2Fprecious-achiuwa-s25YBLtNjSYZidSy%2F) over this period.
“I think it’s his best stretch of basketball,” Thibodeau said.
And now, defenses won’t leave him alone, which has meant a return to the drawing board.
“There were a couple of games I was getting frustrated where they were denying me almost at half court,” DiVincenzo said. “Especially when Julius is out, we’re a man down, Jalen (Brunson) is doing a lot of pick-and-roll and when I’m off the ball, they’re face guarding and denying.”
This is not the same DiVincenzo as the one who excelled as a role player in Milwaukee, Sacramento and Golden State. Heck, it’s not even the same one who knocked down better than two of every five 3s over the first couple months of this season.
bring out the tomato sauce!
I really hope they don’t trade this man. Feel like there’s no way with the Brunson connection, but he’s been so damn good, he’s played himself into being one of our top trade chips
What’s crazy is that the front office bought him in to replace Quickleys production, but tbh he’s been playing better than him as he fits a role the team needs.
Not a shot at Quickley!
Hard to believe this guy turned into a star so quickly. When JB and the other guys went down it was almost obvious that Donte was gonna go ahead and get 30. And that’s exactly what happened.
I’ll get downvoted for this but I don’t give a fuck.
Donte’s emergence, the arrival of OG, the development of McBride and the ascension of Precious makes Josh Hart expendable.
Out of all those played Josh offers the least, and you can talk me about intangibles and blah blah, the fact is you can’t be playing a guy who averages 7 PPG as much as you.
He has vastly exceeded my expectations, which were already high to begin with. I cannot wait till everyone is healthy and we can finally see this team at full strength.
This was a fantastic article that really dove into what Donte is doing and how his numbers have improved. Thanks for sharing!
Interesting thing will be when everyone is healthy what Dontes minutes will look like. Imo he should be 4th in mins behind Brunson, OG, Randle. I dont think you can blitz Brunson the way we been seeing with teams do with Josh Hart on the floor because of Dontes shooting.
This was one of the more interesting points for me:
> Brunson is driving to the basket 24.5 times a game during the nine games without Randle and Anunoby, per Second Spectrum, the second most in the NBA during that time and up from 17.6 before it. Yet, the sharpest difference on the team belongs to DiVincenzo, who is driving four times more often since Randle got hurt.