We can say one thing about the New York Knicks. They like their Villanova players.
With Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart already on the team, the Knicks added a third Wildcat on Saturday, signing Donte DiVincenzo.
The deal, which was reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, is for four years and $50 million.
Free agent G Donte DiVincenzo has agreed on a four-year, $50 million contract with the New York Knicks, Jason Glushon of @GlushonSM tells ESPN. DiVincenzo reunites with his Villanova title teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart to bolster the Eastern Conference semifinalists. pic.twitter.com/MSr1wXS4GC
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2023
Hart seemed to be in favor of the move. He tweeted out a photo of himself, Brunson and DiVincenzo in Knicks uniforms.
— Josh Hart (@joshhart) July 2, 2023
Himself, Brunson and DiVincenzo and Vincent were all teammates on Villanova’s national championship winning team in 2016. Hart was in the NBA two years later when the Wildcats won again, but Brunson and DiVincenzo were both on that team, as well.
The Villanova Knicks. pic.twitter.com/IKumQ25QQR
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) July 2, 2023
If the #Knicks hire Jay Wright, we’re cooking baby.
Good move. https://t.co/3hYnvkZqRv
— Jake Asman (@JakeAsman) July 2, 2023
From Kentucky to Villanova…the New York Wildcats. https://t.co/wZKPGxtJWz
— Alan Hahn (@alanhahn) July 2, 2023
Collecting Wildcats like their infinity stones and we’re Mikal Bridges away from the infinity gauntlet https://t.co/6NgGRCpctb pic.twitter.com/peJPtT5jSo
— Talkin’ Knicks (@TalkinKnicks) July 2, 2023
Welcome Donte! Villanova Knicks are in full effect! 🤘🏾
Jay Knicky 🤝🏾 Zach B. pic.twitter.com/mP7J0dbPwL
— x-NBA Jay Knicky (@JayKnicky) July 2, 2023
With all those Villanova guys the Knicks are definitely going to win the Big East.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) July 2, 2023
Of course, it’s not a full reunion, at least not yet. Mikal Bridges was also on Villanova’s teams in 2016 and 2018. He’s in New York, but in another borough, playing for the Brooklyn Nets.
Mikal Bridges watching the rest of his Villanova teammates on the Knicks pic.twitter.com/eojTY9BVAG
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) July 2, 2023
That was not lost on Hart, who tweeted at his college teammate, telling Bridges to “hit my phone bro.”
Yo @mikal_bridges hit my phone bro
— Josh Hart (@joshhart) July 2, 2023
Beyond just adding another Villanova player, the Knicks are someone who knows how to win in the NBA. He was a starter for the Milwaukee Bucks during their NBA Championship season in 2021, though an ankle injury forced him to miss all of the postseason after the first round.
He played in 72 games for the Warriors during the 2022-23 season and started 36 of them. On the season, he averaged 9.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.3 steals in 26.3 minutes per game.
[Adrian Wojnarowski, Josh Hart]
