Ex-Knicks, Nuggets Forward Makes Major Career Decision On Saturday

Former New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets forward makes a major career decision this weekend

January 6, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Denver Nuggets small forward Danilo Gallinari (8) reacts with shooting guard Andre Iguodala (9) after he hit a 3-point shot with 13 seconds left on the clock in the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center. Nuggets won 112-105. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

FIBA EuroBasket Group Play is getting ready to start, and a lot of NBA players are back home representing their countries, fighting to be the best team in Europe. A lot of pride is on the line.

One player taking place, for the last time in his career, is Danilo Gallinari. The Italian forward spent 14 years in the NBA, but he was out of the league last season. As he nears the end of his career, he talked to La Gazzetta dello Sport about his time with the Italian national team and how it's coming to an end.

Nov 10, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards forward Danilo Gallinari (88) hols the ball during the first half against the Charlotte Hornets at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images | Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

“I’m missing a medal with the national team, and then I can be happy," Gallinari said. "It’s also hard to quantify what could have been and wasn’t: I started with the Azzurri at 17-18 years old, when the 2004 Olympic group was still there, and of all the possible summers since then, I missed eight."

"That’s a lot. Sometimes I wonder what could have happened if I had played those eight summers too — better not to think about it."

Gallinari had a few significant injuries throughout his career, which is why he missed so many summers. He wants to make sure his last run is his best.

"Every summer, anything can happen, even this one," Gallinari continued. "I don’t want to put pressure on the guys, but honestly, I see a team that I think is strong and can do well. I expect a lot from this group. I’m fired up for this, especially since it will be my last time with the national team, which adds some extra emotion.”

Danilo Gallinari wins his first professional championship with Puerto Rico and is named Finals MVP —

Congrats, Gallo. 🫡👏

(via @VaquerosBSN)

pic.twitter.com/U5ec4odNA2

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) August 12, 2025

Danilo Gallinari's Underrated NBA Career

Gallinari started his career with the New York Knicks before he was traded to the Denver Nuggets as part of the trade package for Carmelo Anthony. He played essentially twice as many games for the Nuggets as he did for any other team, even being on the team when Jamal Murray was drafted.

After more than 300 games with the Nuggets, he spent time with the LA Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Atlanta Hawks. He signed a contract with the Boston Celtics in 2022, but he tore his MCL in international play and missed the entire season. A year later, they traded him to the Washington Wizards in the Kristaps Porzingis deal.

A few months into his Wizards tenure, they traded him to the Detroit Pistons. He spent three weeks there before he was waived, and then signed with the Milwaukee Bucks to end the 2023-24 season. That was his last appearance in the NBA.

Gallinari made a career out of helping teams surpass expectations. He was on the Nuggets team that went a franchise-best 57-25 in the 2012-13 season, the Clippers team that went 48-34 and made the playoffs in 2018-19. and the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019-20 that went 44-28 with a revived Chris Paul leading the way.

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