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Surrounded by Ayesha & Security, Stephen Curry Earned ‘The Vets’ Trust in Heartfelt Manner

Published 02/28/2024, 10:20 PM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

Stephen Curry is one of the biggest superstars in the NBA. He has led the Warriors to 4 Championships and helped them become one of the greatest dynasties in history. Steph has also become a veteran leader for his teammates because of his 15-year experience and incredible basketball knowledge. So, when former Warriors guard Donte DiVincenzo was struggling to make his decision during the 2023 free agency, he turned to the 4-time Champion for advice.

DiVincenzo, whom Curry nicknamed ‘The Vet’, declined his $4.7 million player option during the off-season to test free agency. After a solid performance with the Warriors, he received lucrative offers from multiple teams, including the New York Knicks. Unsure about the decision, ‘The Vet’ sought Steph’s advice, who had helped him join the Warriors a year ago. Donte got on FaceTime with Steph to discuss the proposals.

He and his family were there, and his security, our team security. They’re people that I don’t take their opinion lightly,” DiVincenzo told The Athletic.

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USA Today via Reuters

Steph revealed that DiVincenzo was leaning towards the Knicks’ offer and sought his opinion. “He reached out about New York specifically and what he should do, what I thought he should do.” The 4-time champion was also humbled by his teammate, trusting him during his career’s biggest moment.

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“When you have gained trust in someone to call, pick up the phone, it means a lot, especially for a guy who was only here for a year,” Steph added. Steph made DiVincenzo realize that the Knicks were a great fit for him. He could be the extra shooter they needed alongside Brunson and Randle. DiVincenzo took Steph’s advice and signed a 4-year $50 million contract with the Knicks.

Stephen Curry’s advice helped DiVincenzo once before in his career

The 2023 free agency was not the first time Donte turned to Steph for major career advice. After Sacramento rescinded DiVincenzo’s offer in 2022, the shooting guard was unsure about which team to join. With the Warriors’ offer on the table, Steph helped DiVincenzo make that decision by getting on a call with him. Even though the Warriors were paying him much less than his market value, Steph’s call convinced Donte to join the team. DiVincenzo signed a 2-year $9.3 million deal with the Warriors.

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Donte played only one season with Steph but had a huge impact on the team. Steph even nicknamed Donte ‘The Vet’ because of his maturity. “He’s all about winning. He brings great energy to the locker room. I used to call him ‘The Vet’ even though he’s still on the younger side just because he has that kind of spirit about him. He plays way beyond his years.” After taking Steph’s advice, Donte is doing wonders in New York and has helped them become legitimate title contenders.

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Written by:

Rohan Bhaunt

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Rohan Singh Bhaunt, an NBA Writer at EssentiallySports, boasts a background as a divisional basketball player and an NBA enthusiast spanning over a decade. His extensive knowledge of the sport enables him to intricately explore its nuances, presenting a fresh outlook. Rohan's dive into the NBA newsdesk at ES commenced with witnessing LeBron James secure his inaugural championship in Miami.
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