By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The selector of the senior national team of Italy, Luca Banchi, recently reflected on the status of Donte DiVincenzo during an interview with the QS group.
While the 60-year-old expert characterized the broader state of Italian basketball as being ‘in good health, despite the difficulties’, he acknowledged that the integration of DiVincenzo has been stalled by a persistent streak of misfortune. After being granted citizenship in July 2025, the Minnesota Timberwolves guard was forced to skip EuroBasket 2025 due to turf toe, only to suffer a ruptured right Achilles tendon during the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google.
The injury, which required surgery on Sunday, is a significant blow to both his NBA career and his international aspirations. Before the rupture, the 29-year-old sharpshooter had been a model of durability, starting all 82 games of the 2025-26 Regular Season. Now, he faces a recovery period that typically lasts a year, sidelining him for the remainder of the current postseason and potentially the entire 2026-27 NBA campaign.
Banchi expressed deep personal disappointment regarding the timing, stating, “Unfortunately, fate got in the way.” Despite the setback, the experienced coach remains optimistic about a future partnership, noting that a recent conversation with the player suggested their paths would eventually cross. However, he was realistic about the timeline, admitting a debut is ‘unthinkable before next summer’, pointing toward the final stage of the FIBA World Cup 2027 in Qatar.
Ahead of two FIBA windows during this offseason, Italy currently leads Group D of the European Qualifiers with a 3-1 record, well on the way to Group J of the final qualifying round.