This summer’s EuroBasket competition will feature numerous NBA players competing for their respective countries.
Former MVPs Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic headline the star-studded field of participants.
Luka Doncic will represent Slovenia, appearing in notably improved physical condition compared to previous seasons.
Young stars like Franz Wagner and Alperen Sengun will also compete for their home countries.
However, one expected participant decided to withdraw from the tournament scheduled for August 27 through September 14 across Cyprus, Finland, Poland, and Latvia.
Donte DiVincenzo prioritizes NBA season preparation, won‘t join Italy in EuroBasket
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo chose to skip EuroBasket despite receiving formal paperwork to represent Italy in July.
Many fans anticipated seeing him compete, particularly in potential matchups against Giannis, as Greece and Italy were placed in the same group.
The former New York Knicks player made the difficult decision to focus on his physical condition, wanting to enter next season completely healthy rather than risk any complications.
“DiVincenzo was planning to play for Italy at EuroBasket starting at the end of the month, but he pulled out as a precaution to ensure he is healthy entering training camp,” Jon Krawczynski reported.
The withdrawal stems from caution rather than any current injury concerns or team interference from Minnesota.
“There is no concern about the toe injury that caused him to miss time last season. The Timberwolves did not block him from playing, according to team sources,” the report clarified.
Injury history influenced cautious approach from DiVincenzo
The news dismissed rumors suggesting the Timberwolves blocked DiVincenzo from international competition. The organization supported his personal decision regarding tournament participation.
DiVincenzo suffered a toe injury early last season that sidelined him for approximately one month. The injury raised legitimate concerns about his durability and long-term health management.
Despite the setback, he contributed significantly to Minnesota’s campaign, appearing in 62 games while averaging 11.7 points, 3.6 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game. His 39.7% three-point shooting provided valuable spacing for the Timberwolves’ offense.
While Italian fans will miss seeing him compete in EuroBasket, the withdrawal ensures DiVincenzo can contribute fully to Minnesota’s championship aspirations next season.
His health-first mentality could pay dividends during the grueling NBA campaign ahead, as the Timberwolves need many alternative scorers alongside Anthony Edwards.