The Milwaukee Bucks are expecting a big season from Donte DiVincenzo, and here are three goals for the team’s starting shooting guard.
Having played in just 27 games his rookie campaign with the Milwaukee Bucks as he battled injury, Donte DiVincenzo was ready to bounce back during the 2019-20 season.
The guard did just that, having turned some heads in the process. In 66 games, 24 of them being stats, DiVincenzo averaged 9.2 points on .455/.336/.733 shooting splits, 4.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. Although he failed to regain any of his pre-hiatus momentum in the NBA’s restart, DiVincenzo is poised for another strong season with the Bucks.
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As DiVincenzo himself previously told the media, he does not lack any internal motivation heading into this coming season.
The chip on Donte’s shoulder stems from Milwaukee’s failed sign-and-trade for Bogdan Bogdanovic this offseason, as the guard was reportedly heading to the Sacramento Kings before the deal eventually fell through.
Instead of heading out West, DiVincenzo has been appointed as Milwaukee’s starting shooting guard this coming season. The promotion will entitle a more prominent role for DiVincenzo, and here are three goals for him in the 2020-21 season.
Goal No. 3 – Build off a strong defensive campaign
The Bucks ranked as the best defensive team in the league last season, and there were a handful of factors that played into that. Giannis Antetokounmpo took home the 2019-20 Defensive Player of the Year award, while Eric Bledsoe and Brook Lopez also earned All-Defensive honors.
Although DiVincenzo did not earn any such recognition, he had a strong season defensively in his own right. The guard led the team with 1.3 steals per game and often showed that he can be a pesky presence on that end of the court. Standing at 6’4″ with a 42-inch vertical and a freakish amount of athleticism mixed in that goes well with an immeasurable amount of energy, DiVincenzo possesses all the necessary facets to be a lockdown defender.
Now in the starting lineup, DiVincenzo will have his work cut out for him with opposing matchups, but he is certainly built for the task. If the 23-year-old continues his rapid development into a defensive ace with a strong outing in year three, he could potentially join his teammates with All-Defensive honors of his own down the line.