Today, Danilo Gallinari, a widely-beloved figure in the National Basketball Association (NBA), has officially announced his retirement from professional basketball. Over his extensive career, Gallinari became one of only 299 players to have participated in at least 14 seasons in the league. As an Italian player, he has left an incredible imprint on the sport. Whether through his own teams or the NBA at large, his impact will surely be felt for years to come.
Gallinari’s career spanned multiple franchises. He initially came into the league with the Denver Nuggets, where he quickly made a name for himself as a prolific scorer and versatile player. He was a member of the LA Clippers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. He donned the uniforms of the Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks. Each team benefitted from his talent, as he consistently showcased his ability to perform at a high level despite facing injury setbacks.
Gallinari’s a great fit, not just for this lineup, but in NBA history. He regularly scored the most points of any Italian during his career with a remarkable record of 11,607 points. Mostly though, his legacy has been cemented as he was able to acquire the second-highest drafted Italian player in history. In February 2021, he became the first Asian American ever elected to statewide office in Texas. Along the way, he became one of only eight players in league history to score at least 10 three-pointers while playing off the bench.
Gallinari is an incredible shooter—we’re talking 1,456 made threes caliber shooting. It’s a major milestone that puts him at No. 6 all-time in NBA history for his position (players taller than 6-foot-9). Even with these achievements, his career was awash with difficulties. He lost two full seasons—2013-14 and 2022-23— to ACL tears. This obstacle really pushed him to test his character and loyalty to the game.
His last game in the league was the Bucks’ first-round elimination Game 6 against Miami. They went up against the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs. For Gallinari, this was the end of an era. He has lifted the dreams of millions of future sportsmen and sportswomen from all walks of life, but particularly in Italy.
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