This past offseason, the Knicks decided to double down on their 50-win-pace rotation that won them a playoff series for the first time in a decade, which earned them mixed reviews. Instead of taking any big swings, they dealt Obi Toppin out of a jammed frontcourt, and brought in Donte DiVincenzo via free agency.
DiVincenzo came off a nice year for Golden State in his fifth NBA season, averaging 9.4 points in 26.3 minutes a night, shooting a then-career-high 39.7 percent from three. Known as a solid rotation piece and borderline starter, it made sense for New York to target him, needing shooting and loving the high-energy, plus-defense role player mold DiVincenzo embodied.
Despite the logical thinking, many had complaints about the quiet summer and questions as to whether the DiVincenzo acquisition thinned out their bench too much. While it’s too early to draw conclusions in pen, we can pencil in this signing as a home run nearly 20 games into the season.
Entering the In-Season Tournament game against the Bucks, DiVincenzo is putting up 9.2 points in 20.4 minutes a night, shooting 43.4 percent from deep on 5.2 attempts. He’s been everything the Knicks have asked him to be, plus more.
It begins with his most vaunted skill: shooting. The 43.4 percent is a new career mark and ranks 23rd in the league among qualified marksmen.
He’s putting them up in abundance, attempting 12.8 per 100 possessions, beating out every other regular on the team. His confidence is palpable, as he’s not hesitant to utilize his quick trigger -- defender and floor position be damned.
That green light combined with the knockdown accuracy, which is due to regress a bit, is everything the doctor ordered. But he’s got other dimensions to his offensive game, too.
