Donte DiVincenzo is off to a great start this season. Through seven games, he averaged 15.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 4 assists on 44/42.9/80 shooting splits. On Monday night, DiVincenzo had the best performance of his young season, posting 25 points (six three-pointers), nine rebounds and five assists en route to a 16-point win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. I should add that DiVincenzo did all this with a broken nose. The Wolves have undoubtedly benefited from his toughness and energy.
Donte DiVincenzo last night: 25 points (6 3s), 9 rebounds and 6 assists🔥
DiVincenzo is averaging 17.3 ppg without Anthony Edwards pic.twitter.com/IkywC12U0e
— Eamon Cassels (@EamonCassels) November 4, 2025
Since Anthony Edwards went down with a hamstring injury, DiVincenzo has really stepped up. In the four full games without him, Donte is averaging 17.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists while connecting on 44.7 percent of his three-pointers. DiVincenzo took on some primary ball-handling duties early in the season as he earned a spot in the starting lineup, but has slid into a pure off-ball role when Mike Conley returned to the starting lineup. The combination of DiVincenzo and Conley has a net rating of +4.6.
DiVincenzo’s stellar recent performances should serve as further evidence that he is best deployed in an off-ball role. It is notable that 87.9 percent of DiVincenzo’s field goals are assisted. This should not be seen as a small thing; an elite threat off the ball is extremely valuable in the modern NBA. DiVincenzo’s shooting opens up the game for his teammates and allows him to fit seamlessly into any lineup.
The Wolves need to continue using DiVincenzo off the ball
Does this mean the Wolves will have to go back to starting Conley if Edwards returns? Not at all, and honestly I’d be surprised if they do. Nevertheless, in order to put DiVincenzo in a position to get the most out of him, they need to use him off the ball. In the likely event that he remains in the starting lineup, Edwards and Randle should be deployed as the team’s main initiators.
Having DiVincenzo come off screens and cut is beneficial to his skills. That’s not to say he should never have playmaking duties. Regardless, DiVincenzo’s strengths as a playmaker come from playing within the flow of the offense, rather than organizing it for everyone else. In other words, he is an excellent playmaker with connecting potential, but not suited to be a leading playmaker.
Even if Edwards returns, and Conley likely returns to the bench in favor of DiVincenzo, the Wolves will need to use him off the ball. On opening night, against the Portland Trail Blazers, we saw him struggle as he was given significant ball-handling duties, committing six turnovers. It’s best for everyone to use it in an unexpected role. While conventional wisdom might suggest that DiVincenzo is the point guard in the Wolves’ favored starting five, Edwards or Randle should and will operate as the true PG.
DiVincenzo has spent 93 percent of his time playing shooting guard this year and 85.8 percent of his time off the ball. He was fantastic in this role, moving around the pitch, scoring three-pointers and setting the course as a playmaker. The evidence is clear: DiVincenzo is an elite off-ball guard. Ultimately, Chris Finch and the Wolves cannot lose sight of what makes DiVincenzo so impactful.
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