Danilo Gallinari

Born in August 1988, Italian native Danilo Gallinari, whose designated basketball moniker is “[daˈniːlo ɡalliˈnaːri],” has had a distinguished career in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He currently plays for the Detroit Pistons, but his journey to the top began in Italy, where he played professionally for four years before taking his talents to the American stage.

In his native country, Gallinari began his professional career with the Casalpusterlengo, a Serie B1 team, when he was just 16 years old. His performances quickly attracted the attention of Armani Jeans Milano, who acquired him in 2005. To optimize his potential, Milano sent him to play for Edimes Pavia in the Italian league’s second division championship 2005-2006 season. Despite an injury compromise, he still carved out powerful statistics. Scoring 14.3 points, recording 3.4 rebounds, making 2.0 steals, and providing 0.8 assists in his 17 games, he was crowned the best player in the league.

In 2006, his previous team, Olimpia Milano, recalled him for the Serie A season and the ULEB Cup. Playing his first Serie A season, Gallinari was again lauded, earning the title of the league’s best basketball player under 22. His efficiency ratings soared as he played his final season in the top Italian league, recording an average of 17.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 1.3 assists in 33 regular season games and 18.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.5 assists through 8 playoff games.

By the 2007-08 season, Gallinari appeared on the EuroLeague platform, demonstrating a robust performance that scored him an average of 14.9 points per game, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists across 11 matches. In his final game, his season-high points hit 27, and he received the EuroLeague’s Rising Star Award.

Gallinari’s contract with Olimpia Milano had a preassigned clause enabling him to switch to play professionally in the US without significant obstacles. He declared eligible for the 2008 NBA draft. Before his selection, he signed an endorsement deal with Reebok, even getting his own sneaker line, aptly nicknamed “The Rooster.”

Gallinari was snapped up sixth overall in the NBA draft by the New York Knicks, signing a two-year contract with the team. In the 2009 NBA season, he was named a starter and proceeded to set career highs, including scoring 31 points in a match against the Boston Celtics.

A major shift in his career came about in 2011 when he was traded to the Denver Nuggets as part of a three-team trade involving the Minnesota Timberwolves. During the 2011 NBA lockout, he returned to Italy to play for Emporio Armani Milan. By the beginning of 2012, Gallinari had signed a multi-year contract extension with the Nuggets, indicating his extended professional engagement in the US.

Over the years, Gallinari continued to enhance his reputation on the court, but it wasn’t always smooth sailing. He missed significant portions of the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons due to an ACL injury. Despite this, Gallinari’s performances remained laudable. After two years with the Nuggets, he signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2017 as part of a three-team trade, staying with them until 2019, when he was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Gallinari’s journey has included stints with the Atlanta Hawks and his current team, the Detroit Pistons. Throughout his NBA career, he’s consistently proven to be a dynamic player, showcasing his versatile skills.

Gallinari has also exhibited his abilities on the international stage. He’s been part of the Under-16 and Under-18 Italian national teams, winning a bronze medal at the 2005 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship. Although an injury forced him to withdraw from EuroBasket 2007, he returned for EuroBasket 2015.

Off the court, Gallinari follows in the footsteps of his father, Vittorio Gallinari, a professional basketball player. He’s also made headlines for his activities outside of basketball, including modeling for Armani and turning down a potential romantic relationship with Kim Kardashian. Gallinari’s story continues to evolve as he continues his career in the NBA, making his mark in the highly competitive world of professional basketball.