The Villanova bound is stronger than ever in New York!
Former Villanova Wildcats teammates Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo have taken the league by storm, leading the New York Knicks to its first 50-win season in over a decade.
Brunson, Hart, and DiVincenzo are familiar with winning as they've experienced some great success together during their time as Wildcats.
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Days in Nova
Their journey together started back in 2015.
Jalen Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo were both freshmen, and Josh Hart was a junior, who at the time was one of the best wings in the country.
The trio, along with the supporting cast of Ryan Arcidiacono, Daniel Ochefu, Kris Jenkins, Phil Booth, and freshman Mikal Bridges, rounded out a squad that went 35-5 during the 2015-16 season; earning the second seed in that year's NCAA Tournament.
They went on to win an NCAA Championship in 2016, knocking out No.1 seed Kansas along with Oklahoma led by Buddy Hield.
The following season Josh Hart became Big East Player of the Year, and Jalen Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo took massive steps forward in elevating their play.
Despite their growing relationship, the Wildcats couldn't replicate their success the following year, failing to win another National Title in 2017. Josh Hart would then enter the NBA Draft in 2017, where the Utah Jazz selected him at 30th overall and traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Brunson and DiVincenzo would remain together in Villanova, but this time around would help the Wildcats get their redemption by winning it all in 2018. They went 36-4, with Jalen Brunson winning the National Player of the Year and Donte DiVencenzo as the Big Sixth Man of the Year.
Brunson and DiVincenzo's performance for Nova in the NCAA Tournament would raise their draft stock. Then in 2018, Donte DiVincenzo was taken 17th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks, while Jalen Brunson was picked 33rd overall by the Dallas Mavericks.
(Photo : Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
The Nova Knicks
The New York Knicks signed Jalen Brunson to a four-year $104 million deal in 2022 after four solid years in Dallas, where he was overshadowed by Luka Doncic.
Fans and media panned at the deal then, but it is now considered one of the best-value contracts in the NBA.
Jalen Brunson has experienced his best season as a pro by averaging 28.7 points, 6.7 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game.
Josh Hart was traded to the Knicks in 2023 after a stint with the Portland Trail Blazers. Before his time in New York, he bounced around the league making stops in New Orleans with the Pelicans and with the Los Angeles Lakers.
After being drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2018, DiVincenzo played with the Kings and Warriors before signing a four-year $46.9 million deal with the Knicks.
Donte DiVincenzo is also having a career year in New York posting 15.5 points on 44.3% shooting and 40.1% shooting from three-point territory.
They all came together this season to form the trio we've come to know today as the Nova Knicks.
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