Danilo Gallinari (Italian pronunciation:[daˈniːloɡalliˈnaːri]; born 8 August 1988) is an Italian professionalbasketball player who last played for theVaqueros de Bayamón of theBaloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN). After spending his first four years as a professional in his native Italy, Gallinari was drafted sixth overall in the2008 NBA draft by theNew York Knicks. He played with the Knicks for two and a half seasons before being traded to theDenver Nuggets in 2011.
Over the course of 16 seasons in the NBA, Gallinari also played for theLos Angeles Clippers, theOklahoma City Thunder, theAtlanta Hawks, theWashington Wizards, and theDetroit Pistons.[1]
Gallinari started playing professionally in 2004[2] for Casalpusterlengo, a team inSerie B1 (third level in Italy).
In 2005, Gallinari was acquired byArmani Jeans Milano, which then sent him toEdimes Pavia, a team competing in theItalian league second division championship during the 2005–2006 season, so that he could earn more experience with extended playing minutes. Even though he played only half of the season due to an injury, in 2006 he was nominated as the best Italian player of the Italian league second division championship, averaging 14.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 0.8 assists in 17 games.[3]
In 2006, Gallinari was recalled byOlimpia Milano to play in the 2006–07Serie A season and also in theULEB Cup. In his first season in Serie A, Gallinari was named as the league's best player under the age of 22, averaging 10.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.0 assists per game in 34 regular season games and 11.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.1 steals, and 0.9 assists per game in 8 playoff games.[4] During the season, he also won the 2007 Italian All Star Game 3-point shootout contest.
He spent his last season with Milano in the top Italian league,[5] finishing first in the league's overall efficiency ratings.[6] During the 2007–2008 season, he averaged 17.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 1.3 assists per game in 33 regular season games and 18.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.5 assists per game in 8 playoff games.[7]
In the 2007–08 season, he played for the first time in theEuroLeague, where he averaged 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game in 11 games. He posted a season-high 27 points againstMaccabi Tel Aviv in his final game,[8] and at the end of the season was named the EuroLeague'sRising Star.
Gallinari's contract withOlimpia Milano had anescape clause for playing professionally in the United States, effectively eliminating major encumbrances that would have prevented him from joining theNational Basketball Association (NBA). On 23 April 2008, he decided to declare himself eligible for the2008 NBA draft. Gallinari signed an endorsement deal withReebok before being drafted into the NBA. He has his own sneaker, made by Reebok, called "The Rooster."[9]
Gallinari was drafted sixth overall in the 2008 draft by theNew York Knicks. He then signed a two-year contract with the team.[10]
Just one game into the 2008–09 season, it was announced Gallinari would most likely miss most of the remainder of the season due to back problems.[11] Despite his back problems, he came back into play on 17 January, during a game the Knicks lost toPhiladelphia. On 4 March, Gallinari scored a season-high 17 points against theAtlanta Hawks, shooting 4–5 on three-point field goal attempts.
On 23 October 2009, the Knicks picked up Gallinari's contract option.[12]
With the Knicks freeing up roster space for Gallinari with the trade ofQuentin Richardson, and withAl Harrington being relegated to the bench, head coachMike D'Antoni named Gallinari a starter two games into the 2009 NBA season.[13][14] On 31 October 2009, the third game of the 2009 season, Gallinari scored a career-high 30 points and made eight three-pointers in anovertime loss to thePhiladelphia 76ers, one short of tying a Knicks franchise record held byLatrell Sprewell andJohn Starks.[15] Gallinari set a new career high on 6 April 2010, with 31 points in a 104–101 win over the Boston Celtics.[16]
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On 22 February 2011, Gallinari was traded to theDenver Nuggets in a three-team trade, which also involved theMinnesota Timberwolves, that broughtCarmelo Anthony andChauncey Billups to New York.[17] In just his second game with the Nuggets, he almost matched his career high with a 30-point effort in an overtime loss against thePortland Trail Blazers.
During the2011 NBA lockout he returned toItaly to play forEmporio Armani Milan.[18] On 25 January 2012, Gallinari signed a multi-year contract extension with the Nuggets.[19] On 5 April 2013, it was announced that Gallinari would miss the remainder of the 2012–13 season because of an ACL injury.[20] The same injury forced him out of the entire 2013–14 season as well.[21]
On 29 October 2014, Gallinari made his return for the Nuggets, scoring seven points on 1-of-8 shooting in a season opening win over the Detroit Pistons.[22] On 22 March 2015, Gallinari scored a career-high 40 points on 12-of-21 shooting in a 119–100 win over the Orlando Magic.[23] Gallinari later eclipsed his career high with 47 points in a double overtime loss to the Dallas Mavericks on 10 April.[24]
On 3 August 2015, Gallinari signed a two-year contract extension with the Nuggets.[25] On 17 November 2015, he scored a season-high 32 points in a 115–98 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.[26] On 5 February 2016, he set a new season high with 33 points in a 115–110 win over the Chicago Bulls.[27] Gallinari missed the final 22 games of the season due to an ankle injury.[28] On 9 April 2017, Gallinari scored 22 of his season-high 34 points in the third quarter of the Nuggets' 106–105 loss to theOklahoma City Thunder.[29]
On 6 July 2017, theLos Angeles Clippers acquired Gallinari from the Denver Nuggets as part of a three-team trade that sentJamal Crawford,Diamond Stone and the Clippers' 2018 protected first round draft pick (via Houston) to theAtlanta Hawks and a 2019 second round draft pick from Atlanta (via Washington) to Denver.[30] In his debut for the Clippers in their season opener on October 19, Gallinari scored 11 points in a 108–92 win over theLos Angeles Lakers.[31] On 6 December, Gallinari returned to action against theMinnesota Timberwolves after missing a month due to a glute injury.[32] On 20 December, he was ruled out until at least January with a partial tear of his left glute muscle.[33][34] On 5 February 2018, he scored 28 points in a 104–101 win over theDallas Mavericks.[35] On 27 February, he was once again ruled out due to a non-displaced fracture to his right hand.[36]
In March 2019, Gallinari scored 20 or more points in nine straight games, marking the best scoring streak of his career.[37]
On 10 July 2019, the Clippers traded Gallinari,Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, five first-round draft picks, and the rights to swap two other first-round picks to theOklahoma City Thunder forNBA All-Star playerPaul George.[38] On 4 August 2019, it was reported that Gallinari underwent an appendectomy.[39]
On 24 November 2020, Gallinari was acquired by theAtlanta Hawks in exchange for a conditional 2025 second-round pick in a sign-and-trade deal.[40][41] On February 24, 2021, Gallinari scored 38 points and hit a career-high and Hawks record 10 threes against the Celtics. During Game 7 of the2021 Eastern Conference Semifinals against thePhiladelphia 76ers, Gallinari came up in the final minute with a key steal fromJoel Embiid and a dunk, extending Atlanta's lead to six, as the Hawks reached their first Eastern Conference Final since 2015 and only their second since moving to Atlanta in 1968.[42]
On 30 June 2022, Gallinari was traded, alongside multiple future first-round picks, to theSan Antonio Spurs in exchange forDejounte Murray andJock Landale.[43] On 8 July, Gallinari was waived by the Spurs.[44] On 12 July 2022, Gallinari signed a two-year, $13.3M deal with theBoston Celtics.[45][46] On September 2, Gallinari suffered a tornACL in his left knee, and missed the entire season.[47] As a result of his injury, and a trade preceding the 2023–24 season, Gallinari was not able to see the court during his time with theBoston Celtics.
On 23 June 2023, the Celtics traded Gallinari to theWashington Wizards as part of a three–team deal involving theMemphis Grizzlies. The Wizards received Gallinari,Mike Muscala, and the No.35 overall pick in the2023 NBA draft from Boston as well asTyus Jones from Memphis in exchange forKristaps Porziņģis who landed in Boston. Additionally, Boston received the No. 25 overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft and a 2024 first round pick (viaGSW) from Memphis, while the Grizzlies acquiredMarcus Smart.[48]
On 14 January 2024, Gallinari was traded to theDetroit Pistons, along withMike Muscala, in exchange forMarvin Bagley III,Isaiah Livers and future draft considerations.[49] On 9 February, he was waived by the Pistons.[50]
On February 21, 2024, Gallinari signed with theMilwaukee Bucks.[51]
On 22 January 2025, Gallinari signed with theVaqueros de Bayamón of theBaloncesto Superior Nacional.[52] On August 12, 2025, He led the Vaqueros to their 17th title, granting him the honors of Finals MVP.
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | PIR | Performance index rating |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008–09 | New York | 28 | 2 | 14.7 | .448 | .444 | .963 | 2.0 | .5 | .5 | .1 | 6.1 |
| 2009–10 | New York | 81 | 74 | 33.9 | .423 | .381 | .818 | 4.9 | 1.7 | .9 | .7 | 15.1 |
| 2010–11 | New York | 48 | 48 | 34.8 | .415 | .347 | .893 | 4.8 | 1.7 | .8 | .4 | 15.9 |
| Denver | 14 | 12 | 30.9 | .412 | .370 | .772 | 5.4 | 1.6 | .9 | .6 | 14.7 | |
| 2011–12 | Denver | 43 | 40 | 31.4 | .414 | .328 | .871 | 4.7 | 2.7 | 1.0 | .5 | 14.6 |
| 2012–13 | Denver | 71 | 71 | 32.5 | .418 | .373 | .822 | 5.2 | 2.5 | .9 | .5 | 16.2 |
| 2014–15 | Denver | 59 | 27 | 24.2 | .401 | .355 | .895 | 3.7 | 1.4 | .8 | .3 | 12.4 |
| 2015–16 | Denver | 53 | 53 | 34.7 | .410 | .364 | .868 | 5.3 | 2.5 | .8 | .4 | 19.5 |
| 2016–17 | Denver | 63 | 63 | 33.9 | .447 | .388 | .902 | 5.1 | 2.1 | .6 | .2 | 18.2 |
| 2017–18 | L.A. Clippers | 21 | 21 | 32.0 | .398 | .324 | .931 | 4.8 | 2.0 | .6 | .5 | 15.3 |
| 2018–19 | L.A. Clippers | 68 | 68 | 30.3 | .463 | .433 | .904 | 6.1 | 2.6 | .7 | .3 | 19.8 |
| 2019–20 | Oklahoma City | 62 | 62 | 29.6 | .438 | .405 | .893 | 5.2 | 1.9 | .7 | .1 | 18.7 |
| 2020–21 | Atlanta | 51 | 4 | 24.0 | .434 | .406 | .925 | 4.1 | 1.5 | .6 | .2 | 13.3 |
| 2021–22 | Atlanta | 66 | 18 | 25.3 | .434 | .381 | .904 | 4.7 | 1.5 | .4 | .2 | 11.7 |
| 2023–24 | Washington | 26 | 0 | 14.8 | .435 | .313 | .839 | 2.9 | 1.2 | .2 | .1 | 7.0 |
| Detroit | 6 | 0 | 14.9 | .545 | .583 | .875 | 2.3 | 2.0 | .3 | .3 | 8.7 | |
| Milwaukee | 17 | 0 | 9.1 | .378 | .176 | .889 | 1.1 | .7 | .4 | .1 | 2.8 | |
| Career | 777 | 563 | 28.8 | .428 | .381 | .876 | 4.7 | 1.9 | .7 | .3 | 14.9 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Denver | 5 | 5 | 29.5 | .432 | .467 | .714 | 3.4 | 2.0 | .8 | .0 | 12.0 |
| 2012 | Denver | 7 | 7 | 31.6 | .362 | .174 | .917 | 5.1 | 2.4 | .7 | .6 | 13.4 |
| 2019 | L.A. Clippers | 6 | 6 | 33.6 | .351 | .302 | .848 | 6.2 | 2.7 | 1.3 | .2 | 19.8 |
| 2020 | Oklahoma City | 7 | 7 | 30.3 | .405 | .324 | .967 | 5.4 | 1.0 | .7 | .1 | 15.0 |
| 2021 | Atlanta | 18 | 0 | 24.6 | .425 | .405 | .942 | 3.9 | .8 | .3 | .2 | 12.8 |
| 2022 | Atlanta | 5 | 3 | 22.3 | .400 | .267 | 1.000 | 4.2 | .8 | .2 | .0 | 10.2 |
| 2024 | Milwaukee | 3 | 0 | 12.4 | .500 | .000 | .750 | 3.0 | .7 | .0 | .0 | 3.7 |
| Career | 51 | 28 | 26.9 | .396 | .338 | .897 | 4.5 | 1.4 | .6 | .2 | 13.2 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG | PIR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–06 | Olimpia Milano | 1 | 0 | 2.3 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 1.0 |
| 2007–08 | 11 | 11 | 31.7 | .420 | .318 | .781 | 4.2 | 1.7 | 1.5 | .4 | 14.9 | 17.2 | |
| 2011–12 | 7 | 2 | 28.3 | .406 | .267 | .753 | 4.4 | 1.1 | .7 | .4 | 16.4 | 19.3 | |
| Career | 19 | 13 | 25.6 | .413 | .293 | .796 | 4.1 | 1.4 | 1.1 | .4 | 14.7 | 17.1 | |
Gallinari was a member of the Under-16 and Under-18 Italian national teams. He played at the2004 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship and won the bronze medal at the2005 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship. He was later selected for thesenior national team to play inEuroBasket 2007, but was forced to withdraw, due to an injury that he suffered in preparation before the tournament. He was called up to the squad that would take part inEuroBasket 2015.[53]
Gallinari's father,Vittorio Gallinari, played professional basketball withOlimpia Milano (along with future head coachMike D'Antoni),[54]Pallacanestro Pavia,Virtus Bologna, andScaligera Basket Verona in theItalian league.
According to multiple sources, beforeKim Kardashian began datingKris Humphries, she was extremely interested in dating Gallinari, who was told that such a move would be good for his career and that he would garner lots of media exposure. Gallinari declined, saying he would be happy to meet Kardashian but wasn't interested in dating her.[55]
Aside from basketball, Gallinari has worked as a model forArmani.[56]
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