In his short time with the Golden State Warriors, Donte DiVincenzo has already shown himself as an incredibly valuable bench piece for the franchise. The team’s recent struggles, including four straight losses, has further proven that fact.
Before he was a Warrior, and before he was a King, DiVincenzo was a Buck. In his time in Milwaukee, he proved to be an incredible asset, starting in every game he played during the 2020-21 championship run.
He’s an above average shooter from beyond the arc, while also having sneaky athleticism that allows him to rise over taller defenders every so often. Combine these abilities with his high-level defense and playmaking, and you have a well-rounded player who the Warriors will be looking to come playoff time.
The Golden State Warriors snagged Donte DiVincenzo with their mid-level exception over the offseason, but his important to the team’s success is worth much more.
In his first three games with Golden State, DiVincenzo averaged five points, just shy of one rebound, and one assist, doing so on decent efficiency. More importantly though, he was a trustworth, point-of-attack defender that Steve Kerr could rely upon.
The team went 2-1, with their only loss coming in heartbreaking fashion against the Denver Nuggets. He helped James Wiseman get off to a good start offensively, which in turn allowed the big man to gain some confidence. Since his injury against the Sacramento Kings, the bench has been a major achilles heel as the Warriors have slumped to a 3-6 record.
He had a negative net rating through the three games, but much of that was a product of younger teammates struggling defensively, which subsequently slows down the offense as well. Even then, DiVincenzo was one of the only players to push back on transition, setting an example for fellow bench players.
What role should Donte DiVincenzo play when he returns?
DiVincenzo would play best in a smaller version of what Klay Thompson did with the Warriors five years ago — Limited ball-handling, plenty of jumpshots, and strong defense at every opportunity. This benefit the Warriors bench and provide a potentially scary pairing with Jordan Poole, a player with a style increasingly similar to Stephen Curry.
DiVincenzo has the ability to raise the ability of not only Poole, but also Moses Moody, Jonathan Kuminga, and James Wiseman as well. His ability to space the floor and play defense meshes well with Golden State’s young core.
If DiVincenzo can keep up his energy and effort on both ends of the floor as the Warriors figure out the rest of the rotation, he will become a major part and an invaluable resource as Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green search for their fifth championship together.