Whether it's Anthony Edwards' all-around brilliance, Julius Randle's up-and-down yet often amazing play, Rudy Gobert's elite defense, or Jaden McDaniels' offensive growth, there's a lot to discuss with the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, one player who doesn't get enough credit in my eyes is Donte DiVincenzo.
Generally, I think DiVincenzo gets boxed into an archetype of an elite movement shooter with a limited all-around skill set. Regardless, those who regularly watch the Timberwolves know this couldn't be further from the truth.
DiVincenzo has perfectly handled increased playmaking duties this season. He is also a great rebounder for his position, and wreaks havoc as a defensive playmaker. And of course, he is still a knockdown shooter. Simply put, DiVincenzo is an amazing glue guy who contributes to winning at a high level.
Even among Timberwolves fans, I don't think his overall importance to the team is fully understood -- on a national level, it certainly isn't.
DiVincenzo's all-around impact is greatly underrated
Just hours before the start of the season, DiVincenzo earned a spot in the starting lineup over Mike Conley. To me, the Wolves operate in a point guard-less offense, but there's no denying that this role has put more ball-handling and playmaking duties on DiVincenzo's shoulders. In previous seasons, DiVincenzo has struggled with turnovers and decision-making.
Nevertheless, he's responded incredibly this season, posting a career-best 2.78 assist-to-turnover ratio. His decision-making is sharper, and he's initiating a good amount of the offense for the Wolves. DiVincenzo's connective playmaking has always stood out to me, but his skills as a lead playmaker have looked much sharper this season.
And yes, DiVincenzo remains one of the league's premier shooting threats. The Villanova product is netting 39 percent of his 7.9 3-point attempts per game. DiVincenzo often takes difficult 3s, both in terms of range and openness. Having an elite movement shooter opens up the offense in a massive way for Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle.
I won't argue that DiVincenzo is an elite defensive stopper. Regardless, there's no denying that he makes a positive impact as a defensive playmaker. Whether it's playing the passing lanes, poking the ball loose on drives, or diving on the floor for loose balls, DiVincenzo has a knack for forcing turnovers. According to Databallr, he ranks in the 77th percentile for steals per 100 possessions and the 83rd percentile for deflections per 100 possessions.
The Big Ragu also crashes the glass at a high rate, averaging 4.5 rebounds. DiVincenzo's relentless motor gives a frequently sluggish Wolves squad a much-needed energy boost every night.
Sometimes advanced stats don't match the eye test -- but in DiVincenzo's, they do. Impressively, the Wolves are 8.9 points per 100 possessions better with DiVincenzo on the court, according to Cleaning the Glass. His well-rounded skill set makes him a seamless fit with any lineup, and he always uplifts the team.
Every championship team needs role players like DiVincenzo, and he has undoubtedly been the unsung hero of Minnesota's success.