NBA: Detroit Pistons at Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) shoots over Detroit Pistons forward Ronald Holland II (5) during the first half at Target Center on March 28, 2026.
Donte DiVincenzo has played for five teams in eight NBA seasons. He won a championship with Milwaukee and has made deep playoff runs with the New York Knicks and Timberwolves.
The 29-year-old is a hard-hustling sharpshooter on the court and a truth teller off of it. The former endears him to fans, the latter makes him an invaluable source of insight to the media.
The combination of it all made DiVincenzo the logical choice as the Pioneer Press’ next subject for the season-long, one-on-one Timberwolves series now titled Donte’s Den.
Donte DiVincenzo considers himself a bit of an “old soul,” which is perhaps why he has always gravitated toward veterans throughout his NBA career. In Milwaukee, it was Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday. In Golden State, it was Andre Iguodala, Steph Curry and Draymond Green.
When he first arrived in Minnesota, it was Mike Conley, so it was difficult for DiVincenzo when Conley departed the Wolves — the first time — via trade in February.
“The business parts of things just suck,” DiVincenzo told reporters the morning after Conley was sent to Chicago. “It just sucks.”
Conley was his friend. His teammate. And, perhaps most important, his confidant.
“Everybody focused on what he says, but more so like he’s always an ear to listen,” DiVincenzo said. “That ear, that calming presence. You can always talk to him about anything.”
And there was plenty to discuss, particularly early in DiVincenzo’s Wolves tenure. While he has made many transitions from team to team, city to city in his career, the guard noted this one induced the most personal growth.
There was so much DiVincenzo was holding onto from New York after he was traded to the Timberwolves, both on and off the court. He was often angry.
“There was times when I was so (bleeping) mad,” DiVincenzo recalled. “And it was like, ‘Why the (bleep) are you so mad?’ ”
NBA: Minnesota Timberwolves-Media Day
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) poses for a photograph on the team's media day at Target Center. on Sept. 28, 2026.
That question was posed at various points by basketball boss Tim Connelly, coach Chris Finch and, yes, Conley.
It was only when he was confronted with his feelings that DiVincenzo was truly able to start to let go. He realized he was wanted in Minnesota, so that’s where his feet should be.
“When you change that thought process, it just takes a weight off your shoulders,” DiVincenzo said.
Conversations are required to reach such clarity. It’s healthy to talk through feelings. Getting things off your chest helps you move forward.
The Timberwolves have fresh faces in this year’s locker room. And, thus far, the vibes are high. But that won’t always be the case — it never is over the course of an 82-game campaign.
Jonathan Kuminga is here on a one-year deal with a lot financially at stake. LaMelo Ball was traded to Minnesota by the only franchise he has ever known. Jaden McDaniels wants to be an all-star. Anthony Edwards wants a ring, and to score a lot of points.
Everyone’s interests won’t always be perfectly aligned.
“Understanding that (stuff) is going to happen and how do you just stay focused and about the team? It’s hard,” DiVincenzo said. “Sometimes, you just have to have those days sitting in a locker room next to somebody, and they just start going off. And you want that. And I’ve been there, where you don’t get it out and it builds up, builds up, builds up, and you just hurt yourself.”
But who do you vent to? DiVincenzo confides in Wolves assistant coach James “Flight” White. He wants his teammates to know they can come to him. So much of what he valued from his veterans early in his career wasn’t necessarily sage advice, but sometimes having a trusted ally to whom he could vent was enough.
“They’ve seen it all. They know how to deal with coaches, front office. They’ve been in contract situations, They’ve been in trades,” DiVincenzo said. “Sometimes you just want to get something off your chest, leave it alone and go from there.”
There’s no longer a Conley or Joe Ingles to turn to for that in Minnesota. It’s why, while DiVincenzo doesn’t seek the mantle of “veteran leader” at the ripe age of 29, he took a step back, looked at the roster and saw a void he could fill.
“You can’t force it, it’s just organic, where I just think I’ve built relationships with these guys where they trust me and I trust them,” DiVincenzo said. “You want to be an ear, but it’s more so just building relationships with friends. It’s easier to talk to friends than it is somebody that doesn’t value you or your opinion.”
The timing of DiVincenzo’s transition into this role is optimal. Selfishly, the more conversations he’s having in and around the team, the more engaged he stays during his recovery from a ruptured right Achilles suffered during the playoffs in April.
But he also believes his current status makes him more approachable.
Guys want to vent about shot volume, playing time and contract status, among other things. On a basketball team, more for one player usually means less for another. DiVincenzo isn’t currently in competition with anyone.
“It kind of changes your perspective, and you remove yourself from the basketball stuff of what you want for you, you, you and it just allows those guys to just talk,” he said. “I’d rather you talk to me, get it off your chest than say some (stuff) in practice, say some (stuff) to the media where you’ll regret it.
“So there’s that aspect (of it). … If these guys are good mentally and they’re in a good space and they come to me for something, that makes me feel good.”
DiVincenzo is also an effective bridge between players and the coaching staff. He noted when you’re in action, you see the game from a player’s viewpoint. But, when you’re in his current position, the coaching side is far more clear.
“It sounds crazy, but it’s two different ways of viewing the game,” he said. “And being a player and not playing, it’s that fine line of figuring out, ‘Hey, coaches were right here, but how do I say that to (my teammate)?’ ”
All roads lead back to relationships.
DiVincenzo has gotten particularly close to McDaniels since arriving in Minnesota. He and Edwards trust one another. He’s quickly developing a relationship with Ball. Those bonds allow him to communicate freely and convey when the person on the other end of the conversation is right and when they’re wrong.
“We can talk together, play games on the plane, learn their family and stuff like that,” DiVincenzo said. “And as you develop that trust, when you’re able to say whatever, it just makes everything easier.
“I want to be able to talk to you openly and honestly about stuff as a teammate. That’s our biggest thing this year — being connected in the locker room. Last year, I think we talked a lot about continuity. But this year, we’re doing a lot of stuff, small things of interacting with each other and building the human side of things so (that) when you get out on the court, you can say whatever the hell you want.”
Teammate utopia?
“It’s not always going to work that way,” DiVincenzo acknowledged. “Today, I may voice my opinion and it’s not going to be wanted. That’s cool. Go back tomorrow and try again.”
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