2018 NBA Draft: Bucks Select Donte DiVincenzo (Villanova) With No. 17 pick

With the No. 17 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks select Donte DiVincenzo out of Villanova.

The one thing that stands out the most about DiVincenzo might be his confidence. If you’ve watched college basketball the last two years, this is no surprise. When Wisconsin knocked off the overall No. 1 seed Villanova two years ago, DiVincenzo provided an electric spark off the bench and terrorized the Badgers. He also torched Michigan in last year’s National Championship game, scoring 31 points and helped lead the Wildcats to their second championship in three seasons.

3-point shooting definitely headlines DiVincenzo’s game. On 5.3 attempts per game last season, he connected at a 40.1 percent rate. It’ll be interesting to see how it translates to the NBA distance, but regardless, 3-point shooting is something that the Bucks will definitely welcome. Stretching the floor will grant the Bucks some new opportunities on offense, and DiVincenzo will initiate a strong option even if coming off the bench. There’s definitely room for him to expand his game in Milwaukee.

As for weaknesses, DiVincenzo doesn’t pose the greatest defense for a guard. He’s been known to have difficulty against bigger guards and forwards, which will likely be something he’ll initially struggle with as he begins life in the NBA. Despite Villanova being a top-tier free throw shooting team, DiVincenzo’s clip from the line floated just above 70 percent.

He’s never really been featured in the spotlight, as he was never a full-time starter at Villanova and his minutes fluctuated from game to game. However, when he was out on the floor, he scored. His 13.4 points per game last season was more than enough to earn him the honor of the 2017-18 Big East Sixth Man of the Year. It’ll be interesting to see if that has any impact on his approach to the NBA lifestyle, but regardless, he’ll come off the bench with confidence.

What are your thoughts, Bucks fans?