Khris Middleton
Lastly, DiVincenzo could certainly do a lot worse than to look a little closer to home for inspiration as he continues to work on his game.
In Giannis Antetokounmpo, he can look to a mid first round pick that went on to be the league’s best player, while more realistically, Khris Middleton also offers the example of a second round pick who has built his game to the point where he’s now a two-time All-Star.
As I touched on recently, the secret for Middleton on that front has been rounding out his game as he’s continued to pick up experience in the NBA.
Middleton’s value comes from the fact that he can do more than a little of everything, and he can do so efficiently too.
In looking at DiVincenzo’s numbers adjusted per 36 minutes this season, (14.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.1 steals) it’s already clear that such a progression isn’t beyond him.
Also important to note from Middleton’s journey is the fact that he managed to ascend to All-Star status while never taking on a me-first style of play, instead maintaining, and even improving upon his ability to slot in as a perfect complementary piece alongside Giannis.
DiVincenzo may never achieve the kind of success that Middleton has, but he’s certainly an example of what could still be possible for the 23-year-old.