Donte DiVincenzo denies “completely untrue” Knicks rumors

Ahead of his return to MSG, Donte DiVincenzo denied “completely untrue” rumors that he was upset about the Knicks' acquisition of Mikal Bridges because it would move him to the bench.

“Of course everyone wants to start again after the season I had last year, but I also understand that there are different lineups and different combinations that teams want to achieve – I understand that.” It was never about: ” Oh, we got Mikal, I’m pissed. “I was super excited,” DiVincenzo told The Post. “Take the Villanova bullshit out of it, I was super excited because we have a very good player coming back to the team. And you get OG (Anunoby) back, now you see, 'Wow, we're going to be really good.' There was never any conversation about my role being diminished. There was never any conversation about my minutes being reduced. It was an outside assumption that came with it and it was untrue.”

DiVincenzo, now with the Timberwolves after last month's blockbuster transfer, was forced into the Knicks' starting lineup last season due to injuries and performed much better than expected.

He set the franchise record for 3-pointers, led the Eastern Conference in treys after December, and became New York's second-leading scorer in the playoffs behind Jalen Brunson.

About a month after their postseason run ended, the Knicks used five first-round picks to acquire Bridges from Brooklyn.

Not only did it strengthen Villanova's connection with four college teammates on the Knicks, but it also created a logjam on the wings, as three former Wildcats – Bridges, DiVincenzo and Josh Hart – were all eligible to start.

Logic suggested that Bridges would replace DiVincenzo in the lineup, but that was never discussed with the 27-year-old.

“There were no conversations with (coach Tom Thibodeau.) There were no conversations with (team president) Leon (Rose),” DiVincenzo said. “There were no conversations where you were like, 'Hey, we have Mikal, that's your role.' Because you only know at the beginning of the season. So I didn’t think about that.”

DiVincenzo was traded with Julius Randle for Karl-Anthony Towns in late September, which was followed by a report that the guard was “really unhappy” about not starting with the Knicks and wasn't a fan of the Villanova reunion story.

“I don't know how this gained such speed, but it's completely untrue. You can look at the team I'm on right now – there's going to be some games where I'm starting and there's going to be a lot of games where I'm coming off the bench,” said DiVincenzo, who is expected to come off the bench in Minnesota will come behind a guard/wing trio of Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels.

Sporting a full red beard, DiVincenzo was back at MSG on Sunday, warming up on the same basket with which he scored the game-winning goal in Game 2 against the Sixers – perhaps the greatest Knicks shot of the last 20-plus years.

He was expected to face Bridges, Brunson, Hart and the rest of the Knicks in Sunday's preseason contest.

Earlier this week, GQ Magazine published a story and video shoot about the “Nova foursome,” but the topic had to be revised because the interviews were conducted before the swap.

“It's not strange. We’re friends outside of basketball,” DiVincenzo said. “It’s not like we just became friends in basketball and that’s the only friendship we have. These are my brothers. We could do the shoot whether we all play for four different teams or the same team. I find the timing somehow strange. But that doesn't change the relationship or anything. It doesn't feel strange for us to say, 'I'm not there, so why would you post it?'”

Because the move was so sudden and occurred just before training camp, DiVincenzo said he still owns a home in New York and it was strange to sleep in his regular bed before an away game.

After all, the trade was a blast. But it wasn't about DiVincenzo being dissatisfied with his role.

“I was at home when I heard about the deal. And when it went down, I heard rumors about what was going on. The only thing that made sense for me was going (to) Minnesota,” DiVincenzo said. “In the beginning you never want to be traded. So I was kind of upset, I was kind of hurt. …And my thoughts went straight to (the Timberwolves). ….It was an easy transition. There were no angry feelings, no crazy feelings, nothing like that. It was an initial: “Damn, I've been traded.” And you move on to the next step. It was all love.”