As a freshman playing for one of college basketball’s elite teams, Donte DiVincenzo turned out to be the strongest opponent his own team faced throughout the season.
Having just recovered from a fractured foot that sidelined him after nine games, the young athlete, recognizable by his scarlet hair, was given the green light to practice as Villanova prepared for the 2016 NCAA Tournament. In the days leading up to their Final Four showdown with Oklahoma and the soon-to-be-crowned Player of the Year, Buddy Hield, DiVincenzo took on the role of Hield on the Wildcats’ scout team. During that week, his task was to imitate Hield’s style and movements. The plays designed for the Sooners’ star shooter were used against Villanova’s starters during practice.
During that week, DiVincenzo became Buddy. However, he was anything but amicable.
“He was impersonating Buddy so effectively that we couldn’t stop him,” Villanova assistant coach Ashley Howard shared during a phone call last month.
Bucket after bucket fell as DiVincenzo dominated his teammates, several of whom would later join the NBA, including Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart. To describe DiVincenzo as unguardable would not do justice to his performance. He completely shattered his own team’s confidence.
“If we can’t guard Donte, then we definitely won’t be able to guard Buddy Hield,” Howard remembers telling his fellow coaches. “I know Donte is really talented, but he just tore us apart in practice. I wasn’t sure if we were prepared to face Oklahoma.”
On their path to a national championship, Villanova defeated Oklahoma by 44 points. Hield, who would be named the nation’s top college player the very next day, managed to score only nine points.
“After the game, everyone was singing Donte’s praises in the locker room because he got us ready for that moment,” Howard recounted. “Donte could have easily taken it easy, but instead, he went hard against the first team.”
This illustrates the essence of DiVincenzo. He is a competitor and a critical preparer behind the scenes. A champion. He boasts two high school championships in Delaware, two national championships in college, and at just 27 years old, he is also an NBA champion.
Throughout much of his NBA career, DiVincenzo has been coming off the bench, yet he consistently demonstrates his potential as a starter. Recently, he was involved in the most significant trade of the offseason, moving from the New York Knicks to the Minnesota Timberwolves. While in New York, he set a franchise record for the most three-pointers made in a single game and contributed to what is expected to be the most exciting season in over two decades. In Minnesota, he will be called upon to elevate the team’s performance beyond last year’s trip to the Western Conference finals.
“Acquiring a player of (Karl-Anthony Towns’) caliber is tremendously important, but bringing in a player like that requires giving up other talented players, which was the challenge we faced,” Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau stated.
Teams that DiVincenzo departs often regret losing him, while those that acquire him celebrate his arrival. He has a notable influence on winning; this has always been true.
Similar to many of his Villanova predecessors, DiVincenzo was not considered a high-profile prospect in high school. According to 247Sports, he was a four-star guard, ranked just outside the top 100 nationally. The summer before he joined the Wildcats, some observers believed that it might take time for him to develop into a significant contributor.
“The narratives going around were that during the summer before he arrived at Villanova, he didn’t perform well in the circuit,” Villanova assistant coach Mike Nardi recalled. “While no one was necessarily down on him, it was clear that he had considerable work ahead of him. We all recognized his talent, but we didn’t expect his development to happen so swiftly.”
Before his foot injury during his freshman year, DiVincenzo participated in every game he was eligible for. His performances were largely unremarkable, and he rarely exceeded ten minutes on the court during games. he appeared to be just another ordinary freshman in the world of college basketball.
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Similar to Brunson, DiVincenzo was not assured of making an immediate impact upon arriving on campus. It was, in fact, the dedication that both young guards displayed together during the offseason and behind the scenes that led them to gain the trust of their head coach. If you were curious about DiVincenzo’s whereabouts after practices, you could usually find him with Brunson. Conversely, if you were looking for Brunson, DiVincenzo would be nearby.
They often worked on extra drills after practice alongside Brunson’s father, Rick. Brunson entered the Villanova program as one of the most celebrated recruits in recent years, bound for the NBA. With a focus on reaching the highest level of the sport, he trained at Villanova, and this relationship had a profound impact on DiVincenzo.
Then came DiVincenzo’s foot injury, which many within the program viewed as an unexpected advantage for the emerging guard. The injury forced him to observe rather than participate actively. During this time, he focused on improving his physical condition. When he was finally able to practice again, he returned with the freedom to explore his identity as a player, free from the pressure of being a freshman responsible for wins and losses.
In a demanding championship environment, he absorbed everything while competing against the best, without facing any repercussions.
“I believe the Jalen effect played a significant role, in addition to sitting out,” Nardi mentioned. “(Jalen’s) work ethic was extraordinary. The bond they developed, with Jalen taking Donte under his wing and encouraging him to join him in the gym at night, fostered Donte’s competitiveness. While he was already competitive, this pushed him to a new level.”
“He gained tremendous confidence by being on the scout team. You were able to let players like that figure things out on their own because they were not relied upon during games.”
The week that DiVincenzo outperformed Buddy Hield brought considerable excitement about his potential for the following season. Generally, Villanova players show noticeable improvement from year to year. The program’s environment, whatever its secret might be, cultivates athletes who are never content, always appearing ready to seize opportunities whenever they arise.
“Donte arrived with something to prove; he was receptive to coaching and learned the importance of becoming tougher and more resilient.
“Our practices contributed significantly to that,” Nardi remarked. “However, he walked in with innate talent, athleticism, and confidence derived from hard work. When he needed to step up as Buddy Hield, we were left in awe. We anticipate that next year you’ll return as a standout. He certainly delivered and played a pivotal role for the nation’s top team.”
Despite a crowded backcourt, DiVincenzo opted to go pro after his junior season at Villanova, spending a good portion of his collegiate career coming off the bench. Nonetheless, he proved to be one of the finest college guards in the nation as a redshirt sophomore for his top-ranked program. His finest performance that season occurred during the NCAA Tournament, where he scored 21 points and pulled down 13 rebounds against Mount St. Mary’s. Unfortunately, the Wildcats’ run ended in the following game, suffering a narrow three-point defeat to Wisconsin, which halted their chances of securing back-to-back national titles.
The following year, however, Villanova showcased dominance reminiscent of the greatest college basketball teams in history. The Wildcats lost merely three games in the regular season. During their journey to the national championship, their average victory margin in the NCAA Tournament was 14.3 points. For DiVincenzo, his collegiate career filled with ups and downs culminated in the championship game, where they triumphed over Michigan with a score of 79-62. He achieved a game-high 31 points, hitting 10 of his 15 attempts from the field and accounting for 37 percent of the Wildcats’ total basket count while playing for 37 minutes after starting the game on the bench.
“I kept telling Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman, ‘You need to guard that guy! You must guard him!’” former Michigan head coach John Beilein recalled in a phone conversation last month. “He responded, ‘Coach, I’m right on him! I got this!’ DiVincenzo was in the zone. If you observe those shots, defensively, no one could guard them unless you had a frame like a 6-9 wing.”
Going into the matchup, Beilein believed he could exploit DiVincenzo’s defensive vulnerabilities, thinking that his team might navigate ball screens to get him lost. That didn’t materialize, however. DiVincenzo was tightly marking every player in front of him. The Villanova squad consisted of some of the most talented and disciplined defenders in the country, leaving the Wolverines with limited options.
“It brings me some comfort now, seeing Donte and Bridges as elite defenders in the NBA,” Beilein said with a chuckle.
DiVincenzo’s collegiate career wasn’t consistently fulfilling from an individual standpoint. He often played behind some of the top guards the program has ever produced. This pattern continued at the professional level as well, as he suffered an injury during the playoffs in the year the Milwaukee Bucks clinched the championship. He played in the shadow of stars Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson with the Golden State Warriors. Last season, however, in New York, marked the first time it felt as though DiVincenzo received deserved national recognition.
Yet, from all indications, personal accolades do not drive him. His focus remains on winning. DiVincenzo has consistently found methods to impact the game—whether by training the starters for a national championship run while channeling Hield, ending Michigan’s title aspirations with a shooting display reminiscent of Curry, defending with the prowess of Hart and Bridges, or transitioning from a Sixth Man of the Year candidate to a reliable starter when needed.
DiVincenzo embodies the type of player every team covets. They don’t just desire one; they seek multiple players like him. There’s an undeniable quality about those from Villanova.
“These players have all faced doubt and adversity,” Nardi stated. “Yet, they have proven their worth. They are committed to doing whatever it takes to win. Each individual has their personal aspirations, but when the team succeeds and everyone collaborates, it enhances the likelihood of achieving personal accolades. This mindset is deeply ingrained in them.”
(Photo of DiVincenzo: Sarah Stier / Getty Images)
Donte DiVincenzo: The Underdog Who Became a Key to Winning at Every Level
Early Life and High School Career
Donte DiVincenzo, born on January 31, 1997, in Newark, Delaware, grew up in a sports-centric family. His passion for basketball ignited at a young age, leading him to attend the prestigious Salesianum School in Wilmington, Delaware. Here, he showcased his talent, earning recognition as one of the top high school basketball players in his state.
High School Achievements
- Led Salesianum to a state championship in 2013.
- Averaged 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists during his senior year.
- Named to the All-State First Team.
College Journey: Rising to Prominence
After high school, DiVincenzo committed to Villanova University, a decision that would define his collegiate career. Under the guidance of Coach Jay Wright, he honed his skills and developed into a dynamic player.
Key College Highlights
- Played pivotal roles in back-to-back Big East championships (2016, 2017).
- Named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2018 NCAA Championship.
- Contributed to Villanova’s success with stellar performances in critical games.
NBA Draft and Early Professional Career
In 2018, DiVincenzo declared for the NBA Draft, where his hard work and determination finally paid off. He was selected 17th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks, marking the beginning of his professional journey.
Rookie Season with the Milwaukee Bucks
- Showcased his ability to adapt quickly to the NBA style of play.
- Contributed significantly to the Bucks’ depth, particularly during their playoff run.
- Developed a reputation as a reliable shooter and playmaker.
Becoming a Key Player
DiVincenzo’s role expanded significantly during his time with the Bucks, especially during the 2020 season. His relentless work ethic and ability to perform under pressure established him as a valuable asset to the team.
Stats and Contributions
| Season | Games Played | Points Per Game | Rebounds Per Game | Assists Per Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-2019 | 27 | 4.0 | 2.4 | 2.3 |
| 2019-2020 | 66 | 9.2 | 4.0 | 5.0 |
Playing Style: The Underdog Mentality
DiVincenzo embodies the underdog spirit, using his agility and tenacity to outshine opponents. Known for his defensive skills, he often finds himself matched against some of the league’s best players. His versatility allows him to play both guard positions and even small forward when needed.
Strengths of Donte DiVincenzo
- Shooting Ability: Exceptional three-point shooter with a quick release.
- Defensive Prowess: Strong perimeter defender capable of guarding multiple positions.
- Work Ethic: Known for his relentless training regimen and commitment to improvement.
Case Studies: Key Games and Moments
Throughout his career, DiVincenzo has had several standout performances that highlight his impact on the game. Here are a few notable moments:
2019 NBA Playoffs
In the playoffs, DiVincenzo consistently delivered clutch performances that contributed to the Bucks’ success. His shooting from beyond the arc opened up the floor, allowing other players to capitalize on scoring opportunities.
2021 NBA Championship
During the 2021 NBA Finals, he faced a significant setback due to an injury. However, his positive influence in the locker room and strong support for teammates showcased his leadership qualities, even when off the court.
Benefits of an Underdog Mentality in Sports
Embracing an underdog mentality, like DiVincenzo, can offer various benefits to athletes:
- Resilience: Learning to overcome challenges builds mental toughness.
- Work Ethic: The desire to prove oneself often leads to increased dedication and practice.
- Team Spirit: Underdogs often rally together, fostering a sense of camaraderie and support among teammates.
Practical Tips for Aspiring Athletes
Here are some tips inspired by Donte DiVincenzo’s journey that aspiring athletes can incorporate into their training:
- Set Realistic Goals: Define achievable short-term and long-term goals for your development.
- Focus on Fundamentals: Master the basics before moving on to advanced skills.
- Stay Committed: Consistency in training is key to improvement.
- Learn from Failures: Embrace setbacks as opportunities for growth and improvement.
Community Engagement and Off-Court Influence
Donte DiVincenzo has also made significant contributions off the court, emphasizing the importance of community engagement. He often participates in charity events and youth basketball clinics, serving as a role model for aspiring athletes.
Community Initiatives
- Hosting basketball camps for underprivileged youth.
- Supporting local charities focused on education and sports.
- Advocating for mental health awareness among young athletes.
First-Hand Experience: Insights from Coaches and Teammates
Coaches and teammates often share insights about DiVincenzo’s work ethic and determination. His former coach at Villanova, Jay Wright, frequently highlights DiVincenzo’s ability to inspire those around him, emphasizing how hard work can lead to success, regardless of starting point.
Coach’s Perspective
“Donte has always been a player that puts in the work. His journey is a testament to what you can achieve with dedication and a positive attitude. He inspires others to embrace their potential.” – Jay Wright
Conclusion: The Legacy of Donte DiVincenzo
Donte DiVincenzo’s journey from an underdog to a key player in the NBA serves as an inspiration for athletes at all levels. His commitment, resilience, and impact on and off the court make him a compelling figure in sports today.
