On Wednesday morning, it was announced that Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo will not participate in EuroBasket due to a recurring toe injury. DiVincenzo was set to play for Team Italy after being granted Italian citizenship earlier this month. At first, this seemed to be more of a precaution than anything. However, after further information came out, this injury appears to be more serious. Italy basketball representative Gigi Datome provided more specifics.
“On 21 July, we received clearance from the (Timberwolves),” Datome said. “Donte was resuming training, but between 22 and 23 July, he felt discomfort in his big toe, which had already cost him a month out this season. We set a deadline yesterday, and according to doctors and specialists, we were talking about three to four months of therapy, so it wasn’t possible. He sent the video to show that we were on the same page. That’s how it went.”
Now, three to four months of therapy doesn’t mean that DiVincenzo will miss the start of the season. Trusted Timberwolves reporter Jon Krawczynski said that the team isn’t concerned about DiVincenzo’s availability. Regardless, the fact that this is a recurring injury is somewhat problematic and could impact DiVincenzo this upcoming season.
DiVincenzo's injury update should concern Wolves fans
DiVincenzo missed 19 games with a toe injury this past season. Even if he doesn’t miss time to start the season, the possibility of reaggravating this injury again should concern fans. Furthermore, Datome’s comments certainly increase the chances of DiVincenzo missing time with this toe injury. If DiVincenzo needs three to four months in therapy and isn’t 100% before the season starts, the Wolves shouldn’t rush him back.
This injury update comes at an unfortunate time for DiVincenzo and the Wolves. After losing Nickeil Alexander-Walker in free agency, DiVincenzo was expected to play an even more crucial role. His scoring, 3-point shooting, secondary playmaking, and perimeter defense are vital to the Wolves' bench.
If he misses time, the Wolves will have to count on second-year players, Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr., even more. It’s also worth noting that DiVincenzo is eligible for a contract extension. This recent injury makes his value even more challenging to gauge.
Ultimately, Datome’s comments and the fact that this is a recurring injury for DiVincenzo should be concerning for Wolves fans. It’s possible this injury is a bigger problem than originally expected.