Milwaukee Bucks: Donte DiVincenzo not selected for Rising Stars Challenge
While the NBA released the rosters to this year’s NBA Rising Stars Challenge Friday morning, Milwaukee Bucks guard Donte DiVincenzo didn’t make the cut, unfortunately.
The Milwaukee Bucks are already well represented at next month’s All-Star Weekend in Chicago, but there will be one exception.
A night after learning that Khris Middleton will make his second straight All-Star appearance, the NBA announced the rosters to this year’s Rising Stars Challenge and second-year Bucks guard Donte DiVincenzo is not among those taking part in the event that takes place on Friday, February 14 at the United Center.
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The sophomores selected for the U.S.A. team are Miles Bridges and Devonte’ Graham of the Charlotte Hornets, Wendell Carter Jr. of the Chicago Bulls, Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. and Atlanta Hawks All-Star guard Trae Young.
With Carter recently suffering a sprained ankle, his injury replacement will be New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson.
The last Bucks player to take part in the Rising Stars Challenge was Malcolm Brogdon back in 2017 in New Orleans. Brogdon was due to play the following year in Los Angeles, but didn’t take part due to the partially quad tendon he suffered a couple of weeks earlier that season.
While his snub to the Rising Stars Challenge won’t sit well for some Bucks fans wishing to see him under the All-Star spotlight, DiVincenzo’s development has certainly been a steady trend throughout the Bucks’ fantastic run this season. Not only that, but the 23-year-old has fully bounced back from his injury-riddled rookie season that limited him to just 27 appearances last year.
Through his 43 appearances this year, DiVincenzo is averaging 9 points on .458/.344/.769 shooting splits, 4.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals across 22.7 minutes per game.
It’s perhaps DiVincenzo’s standing on the defensive end that has been the most revelatory aspect of his sophomore season so far as he’s truly wreaked havoc on opposing teams with his ability to break through in passing lanes and so on. DiVincenzo still holds the highest defensive rating of all players that have seen consistent playing time around the league, per NBA.com/stats.
Of course, there’s still the chance for him as well as other Bucks players to take part in the other events going on at All-Star weekend such as the 3-point contest and the Slam Dunk contest. Teammate and Bucks guard Pat Connaughton has certainly made his case for the latter event.
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But for now, DiVincenzo will continue to play a meaningful role in the Bucks’ rotation as they continue to chase history and a chance to win their second NBA championship in franchise history.