What impact will Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo have on the Knicks’ bench in the 2024-25 NBA season?

Josh Hart And Donte DiVincenzo have had a full 360-degree experience with the New York Knicks over the past year. At this point last summer, the former Viillanova Wildcat teammates were slated to step into the Knicks lineup off the bench.

It started like this. Hart began the season as a reserve power forward, but he filled multiple roles as a starter after Julius Randle’s shoulder injury. DiVincenzo started his first season as a Knick on the bench before Quentin Grimes‘ role in the starting lineup. Now, thanks to the presence of OG Anunodoorthe addition of a university teammate Mikal Bruggen, and the return of Randle from injury, both Hart and DiVincenzo are likely to start the 2024-25 season on the bench.

It will be quite a departure for Hart, who played at least 40 minutes in each of the Knicks’ first nine playoff games and had multiple games where he went the distance. DiVincenzo wasn’t far behind, averaging 35.8 minutes in the postseason. Both players were crucial to New York’s first 50-win season in more than a decade. Hart provided the hustle, rebounding and toughness, while DiVincenzo had the best three-pointer season in franchise history.

It’s clear that both are key players and had a hand in establishing the Knicks’ identity as a physical, hard-hitting team last season. But with Anunoby and Bridges both manning the wing positions in the starting lineup, there will be significantly less minutes available on the perimeter compared to last year.

That should be an adjustment for two players who played such important roles last year. If the Knicks play lineups with a traditional center like Mitchell Robinson or rely on backup Precious Achiuwa significant, we’ll see a lot less of Hart and DiVincenzo. But as a head coach Tom Thibodeau entertains with smaller lineups with Randle at five, there should be extra time to go around for the two bench players. Also, with Anunoby, Randle and Robinson’s injury record, there will likely be more minutes and starting opportunities available for Hart and DiVincenzo.

DiVincenzo’s three-point shooting has become a major strength and should open up the floor for the Knicks’ roster. Hart can play three different positions, and his ability to rebound and create one-man fastbreak opportunities adds pace to a Knicks team that tends to play in the halfcourt too often. They’re also both solid defenders who can guard multiple positions. It would be important to get them on the court as much as possible.

Overall, this rotation problem is a good problem to have. The Knicks have more depth. The bench was a problem for the Knicks after the midseason trade to acquire Anunoby. In that deal, New York lost its sixth man Immanuel SnelThe Knicks finished the regular season last on the league’s best players list after the trade.

Now the Knicks have two players worthy of being starters on many teams coming off the bench. In addition, the guard Mile McBride has also shown an improved ability to score. It makes for a solid rotation with multiple players on the roster who can make an impact on both ends of the court. Thibodeau has more weapons and lineups at his disposal. But more depth will shed light on rotation decisions and what lineups he uses.