Donte DiVincenzo had a breakout 2020-21 campaign with the Milwaukee Bucks, earning a starting spot in training camp and proving he deserved it throughout the regular season and playoffs. Will he slide back into the starting five he worked three years to crack or move back to his bench role he held during his first two years in the NBA?
Since being drafted with the 17th overall selection in the 2018 NBA Draft, DiVincenzo has battled injuries to constantly improve his game and earn a significant role with the Bucks.
After missing most of his rookie campaign due to injuries, he battled his way back in 2019-20 (AKA the bubble season) to prove he has playmaking value for Milwaukee. He used that momentum to propel himself into the starting lineup last season, starting all 66 of his appearances and averaging a career-high 10.4 points, 3.1 assists and 5.8 rebounds in 27.5 minutes per game.
His confidence clearly took a step forward, as he proved to himself and others that he belonged in the starting lineup of a championship-contending team. He freely launched threes in all scenarios—off the bounce, off ball-screens and in transition—which led to him knocking down 37.9 percent of his outside looks (a nice jump from the 33.6 percent he made the season before).
His career season came to a crashing stop in Game 3 of the first round of the NBA playoffs. With the Bucks in the process of extracting revenge against the Miami Heat, DiVincenzo landed on his ankle awkwardly and immediately came up in pain. It turns out he tore a ligament in his ankle and it required surgery back in June.
He’s been working his recovery plan ever since and is returning, perhaps, sooner than most people anticipated. He was abruptly assigned to the G-League last week for a practice with the Bucks’ affiliate. Then, on Saturday, it was announced he will be making his debut for Milwaukee on Wednesday when they take on the Indiana Pacers.
This won’t be a clear-cut return to his pre-injury role as Mike Budenholzer, DiVincenzo and the rest of the Bucks team will have to figure out exactly how he fits in considering the new additions.
The biggest change since DiVincenzo’s injury has been the addition of Grayson Allen. The Bucks acquired Allen from the Memphis Grizzlies in an offseason trade and the former Duke guard has excelled in his starting role.
Allen fits in even better than DiVincenzo did, mostly due to his sharpshooting from the outside. In 28.7 minutes per game, he’s averaging 13 points per game by connecting on 41.5 percent of his three-point attempts (both career-highs). He roams around the perimeter and the Bucks trio of stars have been especially adept at finding him when he’s open. This quick chemistry development led to the Bucks signing Allen to a two-year, $20 million extension that kicks in after the season.
Even if DiVincenzo doesn’t return to the starting lineup this season, he will still be needed in a reserve role.
He possesses a couple of advantages over Allen and others who have been playing off the bench in his role. DiVincenzo grabbed a whopping 15.6 percent of opponent’s misses last season, ranking in the 85th percentile among wings. His ability and willingness to fly in from the perimeter to snag the ball out of the air will be more valuable than ever with Brook Lopez out indefinitely.
He’s also a good off-ball defender. He has a good understanding about the rotations Budenholzer expects and when to step up and help his teammates. He’s also a gambler, often shooting passing lanes with the hopes of picking off a pass and taking it the length of the court for an easy bucket.
It would be very surprising to see Budenholzer shake up the starting lineup at this point and enter DiVincenzo in Allen’s starting spot. Even if he would have a strong case, DiVincenzo is a restricted free agent at the end of this season and it’s now unclear how he fits into the Bucks long-term plans. Milwaukee may want to showcase him as a trade piece instead of risk losing him for nothing next summer.
Whatever his role ends up being, it will still be a critical one.
The Bucks have been searching for a fourth guard in their rotation behind/alongside Jrue Holiday, Allen and George Hill. Rodney Hood has been mostly ineffective this season and hasn’t found his shooting stroke one bit. They recently signed Wesley Matthews, but he hasn’t had much in the tank for a couple of years now.
That leaves DiVincenzo who brings a different blend of skills than any of the current Bucks possess. His athleticism and energy will be welcomed with open arms, no matter what his role is.
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December 12, 2021 at 09:04PM
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Start Or Bench: How Will Donte DiVincenzo Fit In With Bucks? - Forbes
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