How Donte DiVincenzo has excelled in role with Knicks so far this season

The Knicks came into the 2023-24 season with a nearly identical roster, bringing back eight of nine rotation players. The only new addition to the rotation is Donte DiVincenzo. The 6-foot-4 guard has fit in very well, and after a slow start, he has come on of late.

In 15 games on the season, DiVincenzo is averaging 8.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists in just under 21 minutes a night. His counting stats look modest at best, but what has stood out is his versatility. 

The guard has been able to fit into several different roles with the Knicks, while excelling on both ends of the floor. DiVincenzo isn’t particularly great in any specific area, but he’s been good at several different facets of the game.

A point guard at previous stops in his career, DiVincenzo has primarily been a two-guard with the Knicks. He’s even moved up to the three in lineups with Jalen Brunson and Immanuel Quickley.

Though the 26-year-old has never been a lead operator of an offense, he’s had the ball in his hands more in previous stops. Now, with the Knicks, he’s more of a finisher rather than an initiator, which has to take some getting used to.

DiVincenzo has the basketball less in his hands. 

According to NBA Stats, DiVincenzo averaged 2.68 seconds per touch last year with the Warriors. This season, that figure has dropped to 2.25 seconds in New York’s drive and kick offense. He’s also putting the ball on the floor less per touch.

Off ball movement in the half-court has also been a key to DiVincenzo being effective under those circumstances. DiVincenzo is one of the rare Knicks that loosens up the half-court offense by making cuts. Many of them have provided either easy shots in the paint for him or his teammates. It’s something this current iteration of the Knicks has lacked and adds a wrinkle to an offense that can be stuck in the mud at times.

DiVincenzo has also shot the ball well, reaching 38.4 percent from the three-point line on 73 attempts from beyond the arc. The percentage lines up with his 39.7 percent clip last season with the Golden State Warriors. He already has reached a career-high this season with seven threes and 25 points against the Charlotte Hornets.

On the defensive end, DiVincenzo is very active and aggressive, often successfully pursuing 50/50 balls and making deflections. His hands are a magnet to the ball. He currently leads the club in deflections per 36 minutes (3.6), is tied for second in steal rate (2.4 percent). DiVincenzo is fourth on the club in offensive rebound rate, behind centers Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein, and power forward Julius Randle.

When the team sent away power forward Obi Toppin and brought in the smaller DiVincenzo, there were questions about whether the Knicks could withstand the height discrepancy, but DiVincenzo has a higher rebound rate than Toppin, who is averaging 3.1 rebounds in 24.0 minutes with the Indiana Pacers.

Starter or not?

When Quentin Grimes went down with a sprained wrist, DiVincenzo started in his place and excelled, scoring 14 points against the Washington Wizards and dropping the aforementioned 25 against Charlotte.

Head coach Tom Thibodeau’s trust in DiVincenzo is also starting to show.

Even after Grimes’ return on Monday night against the Timberwolves, DiVincenzo came off the bench but has played 26 minutes before recording 16 minutes in New York’s come from behind 100-98 win against the Miami Heat on Friday.

The success has caused some speculation as to if DiVincenzo should step into Grimes’ role, but it’s early in the season and the starting five has worked with him so far sans Friday night. 

DiVincenzo has already proven to be a solid addition to the Knicks’ rotation, though he won’t always go off for numbers that jump off the stat sheet, he fills in the gaps for the team and has fit in very well while giving the Knicks the right mix of grit and skill.