New York Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo scored 31 points in a win over the Brooklyn Nets on March 22.
In addition to helping the Knicks get back into the win column, the feat was DiVincenzo’s fourth outing with at least 30+ points and just seven points shy of his career high, also set this season.
Afterward, though, DiVincenzo didn’t hesitate to shower teammate Deuce McBride with praise.
McBride posted his second 20-plus point outing in the last three games, playing all 48 minutes in the win over Brooklyn.
After recording 18 appearances in his first 31 games, McBride played in 37 consecutive games. He logged more than 40 minutes six times in that span and came within two minutes on two others.
“I’m not surprised,” DiVincenzo told reporters on March 22. “Obviously, at the beginning of the year, he wasn’t playing as much. But you have to give him credit for the fact that most kids, when they don’t play much or at all, they give up on “Okay.” Well, I’m not going to work, I’m not going to do extra training, I’m not going to do this.’
“He does everything and is ready to go. So when his number is called and he doesn’t come out, this is what happens. He is ready to go.
“Honestly, he’s mental,” McBride said during his media availability in the locker room. “I’m just telling myself to keep moving forward, to give everything I have to get the win.
And when he wasn’t playing?
“Try to make practice harder than games,” McBride said. “I do everything I can: running on the treadmill, cycling, and making it as game-like as possible in practice.”