Donte DiVincenzo has been the new guy before, joining the four-time NBA champion Warriors one year ago.
The former Villanova star — one of four of those now on the Knicks’ roster after signing as a free agent — drew on that Golden State experience to quell the anticipation for Wednesday’s season opener against the Celtics at the Garden.
“I think in a weird way, it’s the third team in two seasons, if you will. I was kind of used to trying to be the new guy, getting acclimated,” DiVincenzo said after the Knicks’ morning shootaround in Tarrytown. “But this team, coaching staff, front office, everybody’s done a great job of making me feel like I’ve been on the team for a long time.
“And it does help when you have former teammates, former college teammates, and you also have other guys that don’t have egos, don’t have anything to do with no drama. Just all about getting better, having fun and playing as one unit. That makes it easy. They help me with little things I see and that’s it.”
DiVincenzo won two NCAA titles alongside Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson, with Josh Hart and Ryan Arcidiacono joining them on the Wildcats’ 2016 championship squad.
DiVincenzo, a 36.2 percent shooter for his career from 3-point range, was signed to a four-year deal worth $46.9 million to provide a floor spacer in place of traded former first-round pick Obi Toppin in Tom Thibodeau’s rotation.
“I’m feeling good. Obviously I know there’s going to be a different type of energy, regular-season game, Boston, all the moves they made in the offseason,” DiVincenzo said. “We’ve had a lot of time to prepare for the game.
“Honestly, I’m excited just to get the train moving. Not looking too far ahead, but at the same time it’s a long season. So just get those early jitters out and keep it moving.”
The 26-year-old DiVincenzo averaged 8.5 points in 23.0 minutes per game in four preseason appearances, connecting on 6 of 19 (31.5 percent) from long distance.
But he’s coming off his best season from beyond the arc, making 39.7 percent of his attempts over 72 games with the Warriors.
“Honestly for me, it sounds kind of cliche and corny, but it’s just to keep getting better,” said DiVincenzo, who won an NBA championship ring as a member of the Bucks in 2021. “To be real with you, last year I looked at the percentage of shooting [from] 3-point [range], I ended up right at that 40-plus, but there’s a lot of shots that I took that weren’t necessarily good ones.
“Taking good shots, being efficient. … So for me it’s to keep getting better in that aspect.”
