Milwaukee Bucks: 3 bold predictions for Donte DiVincenzo in 2021-22

Donte DiVincenzo has seen it all over the past year or so with the Milwaukee Bucks.

After initially being shipped to the Sacramento Kings in a trade for Bogdan Bogdanovic during the 2020 offseason, DiVincenzo’s three-year tenure with the Bucks was believed to be over. However, the deal fell through, and while it was awkward for a moment, the guard put it all behind him as he was given a promotion into Milwaukee’s starting five. With the increased role, he managed to have a solid season and average new career highs in several statistical categories. Unfortunately, he did not play a pivotal role during Milwaukee’s championship run as he suffered a brutal ankle injury that required season-ending surgery after round one.

As he aims to bounce back next season, DiVincenzo has no shortage of reasons to be motivated in his fourth year with the Bucks. Whether it be the team trading for his potential replacement in Grayson Allen this past offseason or the fact that the guard is entering a contract year, he must show out in 2021-22 to prove his place with this organization. Although many have seemingly given up on DiVincenzo, there is no reason to believe the 24-year-old is finished, regardless of the surgery he just had. However, it appears that DiVincenzo may miss time to begin the season as he is still working his way back from his surgery.

As he looks to prove the doubters wrong, here are three bold predictions for DiVincenzo whenever he returns during the 2021-22 season.

Bold prediction No. 1 – Donte DiVincenzo takes another massive stride on the defensive end for the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021-22

Part of what made DiVincenzo’s transition into the starting lineup last season so seamless was his ability to play high-level defense. He showed flashes of potential on that side of the ball during his first two seasons off the bench, but DiVincenzo would be put to the test by being given greater assignments as a full-time starter. He lived up to the billing in that regard, and thankfully, the Bucks had a defensive ace in P.J. Tucker to slide into the starting five to replace DiVincenzo’s defense after he went down. Otherwise, things would have gotten problematic as the team tried to fill that hole defensively.

As he returns to the lineup, DiVincenzo is poised for another strong year on the defensive end. Due to the trust he has built from last year, the guard will be tasked with guarding top-tier players on a nightly basis once again. Considering he is just 24-years-old and has just one year of starting experience under his belt, this coming season should see him improve on the defensive end again. The biggest way he could take another leap defensively would be to stop taking the risky and unnecessary gambles, which is something he did often last season.

DiVincenzo will likely have learned from these mistakes to some degree and be an even better player on the defensive end next season because of it. With the Bucks needing to go through an array of talent in the East with guards like James Harden, Kyrie Irving, and Trae Young, having a defensive-minded guard like DiVincenzo will be crucial. While he might not make an All-Defensive team in 2021-22, the guard seems destined to have a big year on that end with the Bucks.