“Evil Donte went crazy”: Josh Hart lauds Malachi Flynn’s 50-point game with comical monicker

Malachi Flynn has had an eventful NBA season in 2023-24. After spending nearly four years with the Toronto Raptors, the reserve guard was traded to the New York Knicks. This trade also involved O.G. Anunoby moving from the North to the Big Apple.

Flynn was once again added to a trade package, this time including Evan Fournier, Quentin Grimes, Ryan Arcidiacono, and future second-round picks, to be sent to Detroit in exchange for Alec Burks and Bojan Bogdanovic. Just like before, he was seen as a minor piece in order to finalize the deal. However, prior to this, Flynn had only played in 14 games.

During Wednesday night’s game against the Atlanta Hawks, Malachi Flynn proved that the Pistons may have gained more than they anticipated. Coming off the bench, the former San Diego State standout scored an impressive 50 points, shocking the unfriendly crowd at the State Farm Arena.

Josh Hart, who used to be Flynn’s teammate on the New York Knicks, immediately responded to the show-stopping performance:

“Evil Donte went crazy!!!!”

The “Donte”Hart mentioned in the statement was, in fact, Donte DiVincenzo, who has been performing exceptionally well alongside him. On March 26th, DiVincenzo, a former Golden State Warriors player, dominated Malachi Flynn and the Pistons with an outstanding 40 points, scoring 11 out of 20 3-pointers. Hart undoubtedly noticed the resemblances in their performances that prompted him to make the aforementioned remark.

Why Malachi Flynn is the Perfect Fit for the Detroit Pistons

Malachi Flynn is currently in the last year of his four-year rookie contract with the Toronto Raptors, which he signed in 2020. Upon the conclusion of the 2023-24 season, he will become an unrestricted free agent. Following his impressive performance against the Atlanta Hawks, several teams may be vying for his services, however the Detroit Pistons hold the ability to match any offers made.

If the Pistons opt to keep him on the team, he has the potential to excel as Cade Cunningham’s main backup or play alongside the former No. 1 pick in specific scenarios. Flynn’s versatile skill set could flourish under the coaching of Monty Williams. Though he may be smaller in size, he is not afraid to fight for rebounds, guard larger opponents, and lead the offense.

Despite being only 25 years old, Malachi Flynn has already gained valuable experience. As a result, he may unexpectedly become the prominent voice in the locker room following the departures of Bogdanovic and Burks to New York.

Donte DiVincenzo made a name for himself while playing with the New York Knicks this season. Maybe “Evil Donte”will finally get his chance with the Detroit Pistons when the 2023-24 season begins.