The Knicks guard thinks of the blue: “Pre-Olympic and Olympics? My father works on the passport, I’m not interested in spending a summer in the national team and then saying goodbye to everyone, I want to make myself available for the next few years”
In a decidedly positive season for Thibodeau’s Knicks, Donte DiVincenzo is producing the best basketball of his career. Definitely at ease in a system that seems to enhance his characteristics, and with several former college classmates in what is called the “Villanova of the NBA”, from Brunson to Hart, passing through Arcidiacono who however said goodbye to the Big Apple at trade deadline, the former Golden State player is doing great things on both sides of the pitch. After signing a four-year, $47 million contract in the summer, DiVincenzo started the season well but made a clear leap in quality offensively with the injuries to Randle and Anunoby. It is no coincidence that the New York guard closed the month of February with excellent numbers: 21.7 points, four rebounds and 3.1 assists on average. “I couldn’t have chosen a better destination – Donte DiVincenzo tells Gazzetta – a coach like Thibs and the support of the Villanova “group”, I’m really happy with the choice I made. Incidentally, after the season with the Warriors, Steph Curry also when he learned of the Knicks’ offer he advised me to accept it, and I can only thank him.”
Your great season with the Knicks put your name back on the radar of the Italian national team, how are things progressing in this regard?
“My agent is talking to the federation, there are obviously some paperwork to do and my father, whose family comes from Abruzzo, is working on it. I’m obviously thinking about the season with the Knicks but I have to say that I really want to to compete with Fiba basketball and I have always harbored the desire to play with the Italian national team, it would be truly wonderful to be able to represent the country of origin of a large part of my family”.
However, time seems tight for the Pre-Olympic, and therefore possibly also for the Olympics…
“Yes, I understand it but for me it’s absolutely not a problem. I want to make myself available in the medium and long term, I’m not interested in spending a summer in the national team and then saying goodbye to everyone, I want to make myself available for the next few years. I consider the idea of playing for the national team in the offseason as a great opportunity for me and I intend to do it for a long time, if I have the chance.”
Had you tried to get your passport when you were at Villanova?
“Yes, in my first two years of college the NBA seemed unrealistic so I thought about Europe and an Italian passport, then things changed and I focused on my pro career in the USA. The idea of representing Italy at a Fiba competition, however, has always attracted me, I had also often talked about it with Nico Mannion. We had contacts with a view to EuroBasket 2022, but Covid slowed everything down. The following year I had to have surgery on my ankle, then free agency arrived. Now I have found a new home here with the Knicks, I feel great and I am ready to give my full availability for Fiba appointments for years to come. It seems strange but it’s the truth, for me wearing the blue shirt would be something truly special. I really hope it can happen.” So much desire for Italy for Donte DiVincenzo, who doesn’t stop at the summer 2024 events.
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