Inside The Wizards

Washington Wizards Forward Danilo Gallinari Scores 16 in Return To NBA Action

Washington Wizards forward Danilo Gallinari spent last year rehabbing a torn ACL and came back with a solid performance in the season opener.
Candi Waller|
Washington Wizards Forward Danilo Gallinari Scores 16 in Return To NBA Action
Washington Wizards Forward Danilo Gallinari Scores 16 in Return To NBA Action

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Washington Wizards

Starting off his 14th year in the NBA, some may have forgotten a bit about Washington Wizards forward Danilo Gallinari. Last season, Gallinari may have been out of sight, out of mind, due to his being out for the entire 2022–2023 season rehabbing a torn ACL in his left knee; an injury that took place right after he signed with the Boston Celtics. This was his second time with an ACL injury as he missed the 2013-2014 season (while with Denver) due to the issue. Gallinari was acquired this past summer in the three-team trade with Boston and Memphis.

In the Wizards season opener, Gallinari returned to NBA action for the first time since April 26, 2022, scoring 16 points on 4-of-7 shooting (2-2 3PT, 6-6 FT) and adding three rebounds in 17 minutes from off the bench.

Gallinari has quite the resume in his NBA career. Has appeared in 728 career games (563 starts) in 14 seasons with Denver, New York, Atlanta Los Angeles Clippers, and Oklahoma City. His career averages are 15.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting .382 from three-point range. Gallinari has shot .380 or better from three-point territory in each of the last four seasons he has played and in seven seasons has averaged double-figure scoring in all but his rookie season. His .877 free-throw percentage ranks sixth amongst active players. His .433 three-point percentage during the 2018-19 season ranked fifth in the league and ranked 19th in the association in 2019-20 (.405) and he has totaled a career 1,426 three-pointers made, 53rd most in the league.

The oldest veteran on the team, it will be interesting to see the impact Gallinari can have with this young Wizards roster. Despite the first game ending in a loss, when Gallinari’s name was called to contribute, he answered. 

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Candi Waller
CANDI WALLER

Candi Waller also known as "CWall" is the Founder and CEO of CWall® Sports & Entertainment, President of the CWall Foundation, Inc, the Managing Publisher of the Fan Nation Inside the Wizards site, and President of Bowie Television. A native of Gorgeous Prince George's County, Maryland, Candi has been an authentic lover of all sports since her childhood. She was such a sports fan at an early age that she notes one of her favorite childhood shows as the legendary "George Michael Sports Machine". Candi holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Hampton University, Master of Arts in Human Resource Development from The George Washington University and a certificate in Sports Industry Essentials from Columbia University.  Prior to and during her work in the sports industry, Candi has established her identity as a results-driven, relationship building advocate and professional with extensive years of experience leading and implementing successful strategic change, communications, and stakeholder engagement programs across geographically dispersed organizations. She’s worked across Big Four and Government Trusted Advisor consulting firms such as IBM, Deloitte, and the MITRE Corporation. She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Women in Sports & Events (WISE), the National Press Club (NPC), the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), the Prince George’s County Chamber of Commerce and is an ambassador for the National Museum of African American History and Culture. In terms of what she likes to do for fun, that’s just it…anything that is considered fun, she’s all for it! She’s very close to her parents, brother, and sister, and has a host of nieces, nephews, and godchildren. 

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