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March 25, 2024
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Donte DiVincenzo is unbothered by unexpected pursuit of breaking the Knicks’ 3-point record.

“In my opinion, the dynamic of the team you are playing with can heavily impact your individual performance. When I was playing with Klay Thompson and Steph Curry last season, the offense primarily revolved around them and they took a majority of the shots. However, this season, playing with Jordan Poole, the style has shifted to more passing and anyone on the team has the opportunity to take a shot. There isn’t a focus on just two or three players. This change has resulted in a decrease in my 3-pointers made.”

By chance, he will square off against the man he has been pursuing on Monday – Fournier – who has since joined the Pistons and has solidified a key bench position leading up to the game at MSG.

The shots have increased in number and difficulty.

After an impressive showing in their win against the Nets on Saturday, DiVincenzo is now only 18 three-pointers away from matching Evan Fournier’s record of 241 made three-pointers in a single season, which was set in 2022.

“I never really think about it because it was so far away. This serves as a credit and proof of the quality of the people you play with and the team you represent.”
DiVincenzo was transferred to Toronto, where he averaged 3.94 three-pointers per game and increased his total for the season, making him the top player in the Eastern Conference.

It is noticeable that the absence of Randle and OG Anunoby in the lineup is significant, especially when Jalen Brunson does not play like in the Knicks’ loss to the Mavericks on Feb. 8 when DiVincenzo scored 36 points.

Due to the increasing popularity of 3-point shots in the NBA, this accomplishment may not be as revered, but it is still noteworthy. This is especially impressive given that DiVincenzo, a veteran of six years, has not achieved this milestone in previous seasons.

Fournier acknowledges that his record will eventually be broken.

DiVincenzo told The Post he’s into becoming the Knicks long-distance king — “Hell yeah, obviously I want to be in the record books” — but it can’t be a focus.

His 223 three-pointers currently rank at second place on the all-time list, as he recently passed Julius Randle’s record of 218 set in 2023 and John Starks’ record of 217 set in 1995.

He is only second to former teammate Steph Curry and Luka Doncic, who are both in the Western Conference.

DiVincenzo’s outcome is likely to be groundbreaking.

At the beginning of the season, Donte DiVincenzo was a substitute player.

“He mentioned that their tactic is to play physical and prevent me from getting the ball. In previous years, I had no trouble getting open 3-pointers, but now they’re constantly contested or I have to work harder to get off screens. I’ve had to adjust to this new challenge.”

“I don’t actively contemplate the matter. I am aware of it, but I don’t enter the game with the mindset of how many I need,” DiVincenzo stated. “That is for you all to discuss, for people to enjoy. But when you begin to do that – there is a certain fate in basketball, the will of the basketball gods. It’s not something I want to interfere with.”

However, DiVincenzo has observed a rise in the amount of attention he receives from defenses due to his higher performance and usage rate.

“I am quite confident that Donte, who made this statement last month during his last game at MSG, is an incredibly skilled shooter who will definitely surpass previous records.”

DiVincenzo, who signed a four-year, roughly million deal, is a big supporter of Tom Thibodeau, who has provided the freedom to launch treys as long as the grunt work is accomplished.

“That’s the basis: focusing on defense and rebounding. If you prioritize defending and rebounding, and follow his instructions, then on the offensive end, it’s a go-ahead,” DiVincenzo stated. “It’s essentially freedom, with some limits. There won’t be instances where he tells you not to take a shot. He wants everyone to have utmost confidence, as long as you’re also committed to playing defense.”

If DiVincenzo participates in the remaining 12 games, he will only need to make an average of 1.5 3-pointers to set a record. This should be attainable since he is currently making more than double that number per game at a 39.5 percent accuracy rate.

He has the potential to achieve the best 3-point shooting performance in the history of the Knicks.

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