The Milwaukee Bucks are out of the NBA Playoffs following their opening round loss to the Indiana Pacers. With Giannis Antetokounmpo out for the series (and nowhere close to being ready to play) and Damian Lillard battling an Achilles injury, Milwaukee simply did not have enough fire power to hang with the younger and faster Pacers.

With their team eliminated, many Bucks fans are still tuning in to watch the second round of the NBA Playoffs. After all, there are still several former Milwaukee players still competing, including Jrue Holiday for the Boston Celtics and Donte DiVincenzo for the New York Knicks. Both players helped the Bucks win the NBA Finals in 2021.

It was the latter, DiVincenzo, who had social media abuzz on Friday night as he dropped 35 points in the Knicks’ loss to the Pacers (New York now leads the series 2-1). Indeed, there are many Bucks fans who wish he was still on Milwaukee’s roster instead of having been traded to the Sacramento Kings in 2022.

The Milwaukee Bucks Traded Donte DiVincenzo to the Sacramento Kings for Serge Ibaka

Milwaukee Bucks, Donte DiVincenzo, New York Knicks

Jan 13, 2022; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) shoots during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

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Milwaukee center Brook Lopez was out for most of the 2021-2022 season due to offseason back surgery. As a result, perennial Sixth Man of the Year contender Bobby Portis was thrust into the starting lineup for the majority of the season. This also meant that the Bucks had an issue with depth when it came to the power forward and center positions.

Due to their need for another big man, the Bucks made the decision to trade their 2017 first round pick, DiVincenzo, in a massive four team trade. The deal also unloaded the unfortunate contracts of offseason signings Rodney Hood and Semi Ojeleye, who were sent to the Los Angeles Clippers.

As part of the trade, the Clippers sent aging center Serge Ibaka to Milwaukee and the Bucks sent DiVincenzo to the Sacramento Kings.

DiVincenzo had been the team’s starting shooting guard when they won the NBA Championship in 2021 and finished his time in Milwaukee with averages of 8.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. He also shot 42/34/74 during his time in Milwaukee.

Donte DiVincenzo Has Thrived Since Leaving the Milwaukee Bucks

Milwaukee Bucks, Donte DiVincenzo, New York KnicksMay 10, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; New York Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) shoots the ball while Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) defends during game three of the second round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
While DiVincenzo had a good season the year that Milwaukee won the NBA Championship (10.4 points per game while shooting 38% from three), he was struggling during the following season. At the time he was traded, he was averaging 7.2 points and shooting just 28% from three.

After joining the Kings, however, DiVincenzo started to heat up. He averaged 10.3 points and shot 37% from three for them in 25 games.

Last season, the 2022-23 season, DiVincenzo signed to play for the Golden State Warriors. He averaged 9.4 points while shooting a career-best 39% from three.

Of course, the Villanova product signed with the Knicks this past summer. In his first season in New York, he averaged 15.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game while shooting 44/40/75 from the field.

In the Knicks’ loss on Friday to the Pacers in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals, he scored 35 points while shooting 7/11 from three and 12/26 from the floor overall.

Milwaukee Bucks Fans React to Donte DiVincenzo Scoring 35 Points for the New York Knicks

Milwaukee Bucks, Donte DiVincenzo, New York KnicksMay 10, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; New York Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) shoots the ball while Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) defends during game three of the second round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Seeing DiVincenzo play so well is a bitter-sweet thing for Bucks fans. On the one hand, they are happy to see him succeed. On the other hand, it is a painful reminder that he was traded for Ibaka, an aging center who ended up playing just 35 games in two seasons for Milwaukee.

As DiVincenzo lit up the court on Friday night, Bucks fans were posting their thoughts about it on social media:




All trades look differently in hindsight, but the way DiVincenzo is playing this season sure makes the Ibaka trade look awful. Milwaukee really could have used him this year.

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