Knicks create three-headed Villanova monster with free agency signing
It’s finally official — Donte DiVincenzo has agreed to sign a four-year, $50 million contract with the New York Knicks in free agency. The former Warriors guard declined his $4.7 player option for 2023-24 earlier this week to become an unrestricted free agent.
DiVincenzo said earlier this year that he’d like to stay in Golden State, but the lure of joining two of his fellow Villanova championship teammates in New York was too much for the Warriors to compete with. Two of the Knicks’ biggest additions to the roster over the past year were Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, so it makes perfect sense for the front office to throw DiVincenzo into the mix.
The 26-year-old guard averaged 9.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 72 games (36 starts) in 2022-23 while shooting 43.5% from the field and a career-high 39.7% from three. Between his three-point shooting and peskiness on defense, DiVincenzo’s a great addition to New York’s bench rotation.
Free agent G Donte DiVincenzo has agreed on a four-year, $50 million contract with the New York Knicks, Jason Glushon of @GlushonSM tells ESPN. DiVincenzo reunites with his Villanova title teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart to bolster the Eastern Conference semifinalists. pic.twitter.com/MSr1wXS4GC
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2023
New York Knicks sign Villanova champion Donte DiVincenzo in free agency
If you thought that Jalen Brunson was hyped when he found out that the Knicks traded for Josh Hart back in February, imagine how he feels now. Donte DiVincenzo was Brunson’s roommate at Villanova and in a recent podcast appearance, he said that he and Brunson are still best friends.
Hart has got to be excited as well. He said in an interview with Bleacher Report’s Taylor Rooks that DiVincenzo is a “Villanova guy” who he’s trying to get to New York. His wishes have come true.
Outside of the chemistry that DiVincenzo already has with Brunson and Hart, he’s an NBA champion, too. He was selected by the Bucks with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2018 draft and was part of Milwaukee’s title run in 2021. He started the 2021-22 season with the Bucks before being traded to the Kings ahead of the deadline, where he played in only 25 games to close out the season before signing with the Warriors in free agency last offseason.
As much as Golden State would’ve liked to have DiVincenzo back, he outplayed his contract and fell out of the Warriors’ price range.
It feels like it’s 2016 all over again. The boys are back in business! Welcome to New York, Donte DiVincenzo.
