Donte DiVincenzo was excited about the start of the 2024-25 NBA season, but he found himself changing addresses days just before the start of training camp. The six-foot-four guard finds himself inserted to the blockbuster trade between the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves centered around Karl-Anthony Towns.
This move deprived him of playing alongside four college teammates from Villanova, most especially newly acquired talent Mikal Bridges. As DiVincenzo travels from Minnesota back to New York for a pre-season matchup, he speaks out about getting traded weeks ahead of the new season.
In an interview with the New York Post, he revealed that he was excited to have Bridges come over and reunite with other teammates Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson. Even with the acquisition of Bridges, he was promised that his role would not be relegated.
“Take the Villanova s–t out of it,” said DiVincenzo. “I was super excited because we have a very good player coming back to the team. And you get OG [Anunoby] back, now you’re looking at, ‘Wow we’re going to be really good.’ There was never a conversation of my role was going to be diminished. There was never a conversation that my minutes would be diminished. It was the outside assumption and ran with it and it was untrue.”
Donte DiVincenzo doesn’t mind coming off the bench behind Anthony Edwards
Now, with his new team, the shift starts, and Donte DiVincenzo was briefed on his role on the team, which is to come off the bench. This doesn’t irk the former Villanova Wildcat, and he embraces the opportunity.
“I don’t know how that kind of picked up speed but it’s completely untrue. You can look at the team I’m on right now – there’s going to be some games I start, and there’s going to be a lot of games I come off the bench,” said DiVincenzo
The trade was finalized on October 3, with the Knicks receiving Karl-Anthony Towns and James Nnaji’s draft rights from the Charlotte Hornets. On the other hand, Donte DiVincenzo was joined by Julius Randle, Keita Bates-Diop, and a future first-round pick in the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Rounding up the three-team trade, the Charlotte Hornets acquired Charlie Brown, DaQuan Jeffries, and Duane Washington from New York. They also secured three second round picks and cash considerations.
The New York Knicks won their pre-season matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Donte DiVincenzo was in the starting lineup finishing with 15 points, seven assists, three rebounds and one block. On the other side, Jalen Brunson led all scorers with 24 points along with six assists and three rebounds.
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