Two things, above all else, are important to Donte DiVincenzo.
Family and winning.
The Knicks had both of those, with their location relatively close to his home in Delaware, the presence of close friends Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart on the roster, and the upward trajectory of the franchise under Tom Thibodeau.
“Ultimately, I like to win basketball games,” DiVincenzo said on Monday’s media day. “Looking at the layout of where I was potentially going, I felt most comfortable adding the family aspect and adding what they’ve done last year. And how I can plug in and benefit from everybody around me. And help this team go further.”
The 6-foot-4 DiVincenzo has done a lot of winning throughout his NBA career, winning an NBA title with the Bucks and playing in the postseason with the Warriors last season.
He picked the Knicks, in part, because of what he has noticed about them under Thibodeau the last three years, reaching the postseason twice and winning a playoff series for the first time in a decade last year.
He doesn’t care that he may be coming off the bench — Thibodeau plans to keep last year’s starting five intact — or that his playing time could fluctuate.
“My focus is to win games whether I’m starting or coming off the bench, playing 20 minutes or 40 minutes,” said DiVincenzo, who agreed to a four-year, $50 million deal with the Knicks in the summer after averaging 9.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists with the Warriors a season ago. “I signed a four-year deal here, so I plan to be here long term.”
The sharpshooting DiVincenzo, 26, didn’t talk to either Brunson or Hart before signing the contract.
He rarely talks to Brunson about basketball.
Their friendship goes beyond that.
But he is thrilled to call them teammates again, after winning a pair of national championships at Villanova together.
Being only a few hours away from his family in Delaware is an added bonus.
“It couldn’t have worked out better for me I think,” he said.
DiVincenzo may not be a Knick if not for Hart.
His decision to opt into the final year of his deal on June 29, created the necessary cap space for the Knicks to sign DiVincenzo.
Hart ended up agreeing to a four-year extension on Aug. 9 for $81 million.
“It just says a lot about what he wants, and what he thinks can work. And ultimately I’m appreciative of that,” DiVincenzo said. “Now, it’s time to go out and prove why they think I’m worth what I’m worth.”