Don’t mind Timberwolves fans if they look a bit confused. They are just unsure what to make of the recent Donte DiVincenzo news. On Wednesday, it was announced that the 28-year-old guard would miss this summer’s EuroBasket for Italy due to a left big toe ailment.
Reports seem to be conflicting as to the severity of the injury. Regardless of how much time he may miss, the fact that this toe seems to be a recurring problem for DiVincenzo should be a cause for concern for the Wolves fanbase.
Toe injury forces DiVincenzo to miss EuroBasket
From January 17 until February 24 last season, DiVincenzo missed all 19 of Minnesota’s outings. The reason? A turf toe injury to that same left big toe. The press release from the team at the time stated that he had a partially torn plantar ligament in that toe. Surgery wasn’t required, and he only missed one more game through the rest of the regular season/postseason after returning.
While the exact injury is not yet known, one has to wonder if going under the knife is a possibility because it’s not the first time that toe has been hurt.
Conflicting reports on seriousness of injury
Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic seems to believe that this is not a serious matter. He tweeted out that the Timberwolves are not worried about his status to begin the 2025-26 season.
On Donte DiVincenzo’s announcement of a health issue that will keep him from playing for Team Italy: I’m told that Wolves see it as a precaution. No concern about his readiness for the upcoming season.
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) July 30, 2025
That seems to be a different tune than Italian national team coordinator Gigi Datome is singing. He stated that doctors and therapists have spoken about how DiVincenzo’s toe injury would require 3-4 months of therapy.
Cause for concern even if available to start season?
According to Datome’s stated timetable on the shelf, DiVincenzo would be sidelined to begin the upcoming season. That would leave Chris Finch without two of the three bench pieces that he trusted in the postseason. Nickeil Alexander-Walker has signed with the Hawks, and Terrence Shannon Jr. wasn’t inserted into the rotation until the Western Conference Finals.
That would put even more of an onus on young pieces Shannon Jr., Rob Dillingham, and Jaylen Clark to step up. They were already expected to do so after it was known that Alexander-Walker would be leaving.
Even if DiVincenzo is ready to begin the season, fans have to wonder if his left big toe will ever be fully healed. It would seem as if there is at least an increased possibility of him injuring it during the year. An injury reoccurrence at the wrong time, such as the end of the regular season or during the playoffs, would be a huge blow for the Timberwolves.