Danilo Gallinari

Danilo Gallinari was born on August 8, 1988, in Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, Italy. He began his professional basketball career in 2004 with Casalpusterlengo in Italy’s Serie B1. His early career progression included a move to Olimpia Milano in 2005, which subsequently sent him to Edimes Pavia to gain greater playing experience. Despite an injury-shortened season, he was recognized as the best Italian player in the Italian league second division championship in 2006, averaging 14.3 points per game. He returned to Olimpia Milano in 2006, where he continued to develop, earning the Italian League Best Youth Player award twice in 2007 and 2008 and being named the Lega Basket Serie A MVP in 2008. His performance in the EuroLeague during the 2007-08 season, where he averaged 14.9 points and 4.2 rebounds in 11 games, earned him the EuroLeague Rising Star award.

Gallinari declared for the 2008 NBA draft and was selected sixth overall by the New York Knicks. His NBA journey included stints with the Denver Nuggets (2011–2017), Los Angeles Clippers (2017–2019), Oklahoma City Thunder (2019–2020), and Atlanta Hawks (2020–2022). A significant turning point in his career was the trade to the Denver Nuggets in 2011 as part of a three-team deal. He consistently showcased his scoring ability, setting career highs with 40 points against the Orlando Magic in 2015 and later 47 points in a double-overtime game against the Dallas Mavericks the same year. In the 2018-19 season with the Los Angeles Clippers, he achieved his career-best scoring average of 19.8 points per game. During his time with the Atlanta Hawks, he scored 38 points and achieved a Hawks record of 10 three-pointers in a single game against the Celtics in 2021, contributing to the team reaching the Eastern Conference Finals.

After a period with the Washington Wizards and Detroit Pistons, Gallinari joined the Milwaukee Bucks in 2024. He later signed with the Vaqueros de Bayamón of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) in 2025. He led the Vaqueros to their 17th title and was awarded the BSN Finals MVP in August 2025. Throughout his career, he has represented the Italian national basketball team, participating in events such as the FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship, where he earned a bronze medal in 2005. He has consistently demonstrated resilience, returning to play after significant injuries, including an ACL tear in 2013 and another torn ACL in his left knee in 2022. He is also recognized for his high free-throw percentage, reaching 96.3% in his rookie NBA season.