Donte DiVincenzo wasn’t handed the keys to the Timberwolves’ offense so much as he was asked to help steer a bus full of drivers. Just hours before the season tipped off, Minnesota made the call to start DiVincenzo over the veteran Mike Conley-a move that raised eyebrows more for what it might mean than what it actually did.
This wasn’t about naming a new point guard. In fact, in Minnesota’s system, there isn’t one.
This is a true point guard-by-committee setup, and DiVincenzo’s role in that structure is turning out to be one of the season’s most pleasant surprises.
Thirty games in, the Villanova product is doing more than just holding his own with the ball in his hands-he’s thriving. DiVincenzo is averaging a career-high 3.8 assists per game while keeping his turnovers low at 1.3 per night, the second-best mark of his career. That adds up to a personal-best assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.88, a number that speaks to just how smart and steady he’s been with his decision-making.
This isn’t a player reinventing himself. DiVincenzo has always been an elite off-ball guard-tough, active, and a knockdown shooter when he’s in rhythm. But now, he’s added another layer to his game, and it’s making a noticeable impact on a Timberwolves team that’s been one of the league’s most balanced squads through the first third of the season.
Let’s talk about the offense. When DiVincenzo is on the floor with the starting group, Minnesota is scoring at a blistering rate-122.7 points per 100 possessions, per Cleaning the Glass.
That’s elite territory. His floor spacing and quick-trigger shooting (he’s hitting 38.5% from deep and ranks 11th in the league in made threes) were always part of the appeal.
But it’s the added playmaking that’s helping unlock the best versions of Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle.
Instead of simply spotting up or slashing, DiVincenzo is now serving as a connective piece-swinging the ball, attacking closeouts, and making the extra pass that turns a good shot into a great one. He’s not running pick-and-rolls like a traditional point guard, but he’s keeping the offense humming, and that’s just as valuable in this system.
Over the last 12 games, DiVincenzo has taken his playmaking up another notch, averaging 4.6 assists to just 1.1 turnovers. The Wolves have gone 10-2 in that stretch, and it’s no coincidence.
He’s reading the floor quicker, trusting his instincts, and making sharp, decisive passes. In Tuesday night’s win over the Knicks, he tallied eight assists with just one turnover-another example of how he’s consistently making the right reads without forcing the issue.
That’s a far cry from the season opener, when he turned it over six times against Portland. At the time, it raised some fair concerns-was this going to be a recurring issue?
But since that rocky debut, DiVincenzo has cleaned things up in a big way. He hasn’t had a single game with five or more turnovers since, and his decision-making has been rock solid.
What’s also flying a bit under the radar is how his unselfishness is shaping the Wolves' offensive identity. DiVincenzo doesn’t need the ball to be effective, but when it’s in his hands, he’s making smart, team-first plays. That willingness to move the ball and trust his teammates has helped create a more free-flowing, read-and-react style that suits Minnesota’s personnel.
And the numbers back it up-DiVincenzo owns the best net on/off swing on the team at plus-8.7. That’s not just a stat; it’s a reflection of his impact on both ends of the floor, but especially as a catalyst for the offense.
In a league full of stars and stat-stuffers, DiVincenzo is proving the value of a high-level glue guy. He’s not the flashiest name in the lineup, but his ability to shoot, defend, and now create is giving the Timberwolves a dynamic edge. His evolution as a playmaker isn’t just a nice bonus-it’s becoming a foundational piece of Minnesota’s success.