Danilo Gallinari Announces Retirement After 16-Season Career
ROME, Italy – Veteran Italian basketball player danilo Gallinari, 37, announced his retirement from professional basketball today via an emotional video posted on social media. The announcement marks the end of a celebrated career spanning 16 seasons in the NBA and numerous appearances representing his native Italy.
“I don’t remember when you really came into my life,” Gallinari said of the sport in the video. “you were a dream, a refuge, a continuous challenge. You made me grow up, you taught me to never stop trying. In every duel, in every cry, in every party there was a piece of our history. Thank you.”
Born August 8, 1988, in Sant’angelo Lodigiano, Gallinari followed in the footsteps of his father, Vittorio Gallinari, a prominent player for Olimpia Milano in the 1970s and 80s. he began his professional career wiht Olimpia Milano in 2005,after debuting in Serie B1 with Casalpusterlengo at age 16,and later played for Pavia in Serie A2. He quickly rose to prominence,earning Euroleague Best Young Player honors and the Italian League’s regular season MVP award in 2007-2008.
Gallinari was selected sixth overall in the 2008 NBA draft by the New York Knicks, coached at the time by former Olimpia Milano player and coach Mike D’Antoni. He went on to play for the Knicks, Denver Nuggets (six seasons), los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Atlanta hawks, Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons, and Milwaukee Bucks, totaling 777 regular season games with a career average of 14.9 points.
Throughout his NBA career, Gallinari battled numerous injuries, including two ACL tears (in Denver and Boston), meniscus issues, and back and hand problems.Despite these setbacks, he consistently demonstrated resilience and a dedication to the game.
Following a season in Puerto Rico where he secured his first career trophy, Gallinari concluded his career with the Italian national team, participating in the recent European Championship. He represented Italy 83 times, scoring a total of 1129 points.
“Today,with a heart full of gratitude,I announce my retirement after a career I have always dreamed of,” Gallinari stated. “A career built with hard work, sacrifices, victories, defeats, teammates who became brothers, the guidance of my coaches and, of course, the family and friends who have been with me every step of the way.”
