Donte is That Dude

Like his buddy Brunson, DiVincenzo's contract continues to look better and better as the days drag on and the wins pile up.

Final Score: Knicks 124 - Pistons 99
Record: 43-28

In the summer of 2022, plenty of pundits lambasted the Knicks for not acquiring Donovan Mitchell. New York "settled" for Jalen Brunson. 

Last summer, many argued that the Knicks should trade valuable draft assets in exchange for Dejounte Murray or Bradley Beal. New York "settled" for signing Donte DiVincenzo to a contract for less than the mid-level exception. 

Incredibly, these two friends, who were roommates as freshmen at Villanova and grew so close that DiVincenzo was a groomsman in Brunson's wedding last year, have established themselves as one of the most potent, productive and efficient backcourts in the entire league. While Mitchell and Beal struggle to stay healthy, JB and DDV show up and show out nightly (for a fraction of the cost). 

Brunson has received plenty of praise and has been the headliner for much of this magical 2023-24 campaign due to his MVP-caliber contributions. However, DiVincenzo stole the show on Monday night at MSG with a record-setting performance. 

Donte drilled 11 three-pointers, the most ever by a Knickerbocker in a single game (breaking a record that belonged to J.R. Smith and Evan Fournier), and poured in a career-high 40 points (14-of-23 FGs) in the Knicks victory over the lowly Pistons. He added five rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block. DDV had been in a mini-slump heading into this contest but got hot early and never cooled off.

After the game, he joked, "If Jalen passed the ball more, I could have had 15."