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Knicks Newcomer Makes History in First Season with Franchise
USA Today Sports

Donte DiVincenzo probably didn’t anticipate his tenure with the New York Knicks going this well. Nonetheless, he’s probably not complaining. Now in his sixth season and on his fourth team, DiVincenzo is having a career year.

In fact, he’s playing so well that he’s making Knicks history.

Donte DiVincenzo Makes History in First Season with Knicks

On Monday, DiVincenzo broke the franchise’s single-game record for made 3s with 11 against the Detroit Pistons. On Friday, he did the same with their single-season record after going 6-12 from 3 against the San Antonio Spurs. DiVincenzo has now made 245 3s from beyond the arc this season, passing Evan Fournier‘s 241 made 3s, a record set in 2021-22. Before Fournier held the record, the Knicks’ single-season record for made 3s (217) stood for 27 years, set by the infamous John Starks in 1994-95.

“It’s cool, it’s a cool accomplishment,” DiVincenzo said after breaking the record, per The New York Post’s Stefan Bondy. “You look at the list of who is on there, it’s special.”

“We still have nine games to go. So there’s no real pressure. Just go out there and take the shots I’ve been taking all year.”

This season, DiVincenzo has made 3.4 3-pointers per game. With nine games remaining on the schedule, he’s on pace to make 30 more 3s —275 total —if he plays in every game. Since DiVincenzo was drafted in 2018, only six players have converted at least 275 threes in a single season: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Damian Lillard, James Harden, Paul George, and Buddy Hield.

With five of those players likely to enter the Hall of Fame, and the other ranking 10th among active players in 3-point field goals, he can’t ask for much better company than that.

A Bargain Deal

DiVincenzo’s averaging 15.0 points per game this season on 40.2 percent shooting from 3 (both career-highs). The Knicks are 34-20 when he starts. That said, New York may have gotten him on a bargain deal.

Following a solid showing with the Golden State Warriors in 2022-23, DiVincenzo signed a four-year, $46.9 million contract to join former Villanova teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart in New York last summer. The 27-year-old is under contract with the Knicks through the 2026-27 season.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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