Milwaukee Bucks: Assessing Donte DiVincenzo’s highs and lows this year

Donte DiVincenzo’s third season with the Milwaukee Bucks has been his best, as the former Villanova product has seen a more prominent role than ever before.

The 24-year-old entered the year with a massive chip on his shoulder following a brief time period where the team had traded him away this offseason. When that deal fell through, the team slid the guard into the starting lineup full-time after primarily serving as a bench piece throughout his first two seasons.

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In 38 appearances, DiVincenzo has embraced the opportunity with this new-look Milwaukee team.

The guard is averaging career-bests in several statistical categories, currently putting up 10.3 points on .416/.378/.650 shooting splits, five rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.

Logging a career-high 26.6 minutes per game, one of the youngest players on this roster continues to show growth in his development on a nightly basis.

However, despite the uptick in production, there is still much room to grow for the third-year guard moving forward. That has been on full display this season for DiVincenzo, particularly offensively.

What has Donte DiVincenzo done well with the Milwaukee Bucks this season?

The biggest improvement in DiVincenzo’s game this season has been his improved 3-point shooting. After knocking down 31.8 percent of his triples on 3.5 attempts over his first two seasons with the Bucks, it was clear that he needed to bump that success rate up a few ticks if he were to fit in this offense.

Floor spacing plays a pivotal role in the success of Milwaukee’s offense, and Donte has looked as if he worked tirelessly to improve his shooting this offseason. So far, the guard has been knocking down 37.8 percent of such shots on 4.9 attempts this year, showing significant improvement in what had been the biggest flaw in his game.

Per NBA.com/stats, DiVincenzo has been the most impactful on catch-and-shoot tries from behind the arc, shooting 49-of-126 (38.9 percent) on the season. Letting it fly with confidence, the guard’s quick release has been among his strong suits this season.

The Big Ragu has also bumped his assists numbers up by averaging a career-best 2.9 per game this season. Playing alongside ballhandlers like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday, the Bucks are not dependent on DiVincenzo to consistently conjure up offense for others, but it is certainly welcoming to see him take strides in that area of his game.

What has Donte DiVincenzo struggled with this season on the offensive end?

With DiVincenzo improving his game to be a better threat from behind the arc this year, his struggles largely stem from his issues converting close to the basket.

DiVincenzo is shooting just 62-of-117 from inside the restricted area this season, a lackluster 53 percent. The guard’s finishing at the rim has been a highlighted weak spot in his ever-improving game, leaving empty opportunities there often during games.

DiVincenzo’s numbers inside the paint outside of the restricted area are also subpar as he’s shooting a subpar 5-of-29 on such shots. Hitting 17.2 percent of your attempts outside the restricted area is certainly not ideal no matter what position, and it has hindered the guard’s production this season.

As has his free throw shooting, which has taken a significant dip this season. The guard is knocking down just 65 percent of his 1.1 attempts from the stripe this season. After shooting in the mid-70s in the first two seasons of his career, he could stand to improve his shooting from the charity stripe and put a few extra points on the board.

Inconsistency on the offensive end also remains a prominent hole in Donte’s game. One night the 24-year-old will have the hot hand and piece together a phenomenal performance, only to go ice cold and have a minimal impact the following game. There is no direct cure for inconsistency, but all the Bucks can ask for is that DiVincenzo stays aggressive.

With a distinguished role at the front of the rotation, the guard will continue getting action in the biggest moments of games, and the Bucks will need him at his best.

Whether it be knocking down a clutch triple, finishing on the fast break, or even taking a charge in the closing moments of a close game, Donte DiVincenzo is built for it, but he must do it consistently.