Danilo Gallinari Retires: A Skilled Scorer, a Global Journey, and a Career That Quietly Shaped the Modern NBA
After 14 seasons, eight NBA teams, and one of the more quietly influential careers of his generation, Danilo Gallinari is officially calling it a career.
The 37-year-old forward, who was selected sixth overall by the New York Knicks in the 2008 NBA Draft, announced his retirement Tuesday with a heartfelt message on social media. In a video narrated in Italian, Gallinari reflected on the game that shaped his life-calling basketball both a dream and a challenge, a teacher and a companion-and thanked the sport for every moment, from the highs of celebration to the lows of injury and recovery.
It was a fitting farewell from a player whose journey through the league was anything but ordinary.
From Milan to Madison Square Garden
Gallinari came to the NBA with a polished offensive skill set and a reputation as one of Europe’s brightest young stars. After four professional seasons in Italy, he entered the 2008 Draft as a 19-year-old and landed in New York-a city that knows a thing or two about basketball dreams.
His rookie season was derailed by back issues, but by 2009-10, Gallinari had found his rhythm. He averaged 15.1 points per game and looked like a foundational piece for the Knicks. That momentum carried into the next season, but his time in New York was cut short by one of the most high-profile trades of the decade: the Carmelo Anthony blockbuster that sent Gallinari to Denver in 2011.
A Key Piece in Denver’s Rebuild
In Denver, Gallinari became more than just a throw-in from the Melo deal. He was a core player on a Nuggets team that leaned into versatility and spacing-a style that would become the league norm in the years to follow. His ability to stretch the floor as a 6'10" forward made him a matchup problem and a prototype for the modern stretch-four.
But just as he was hitting his stride, Gallinari suffered a torn ACL late in the 2012-13 season. The injury cost him the entire 2013-14 campaign, and while he eventually returned to form, it was a turning point in his career.
Still, Gallinari bounced back. In 2015-16, he posted a then-career-high 19.5 points per game, followed by another strong showing in 2016-17. But with Denver adding Paul Millsap in free agency, Gallinari was traded to the Clippers in the summer of 2017.
L.A., OKC, and a Tour Through the Trade Machine
In Los Angeles, Gallinari enjoyed arguably the best season of his career. He averaged a career-high 19.8 points per game in 2018-19, shooting efficiently and serving as a veteran leader on a scrappy Clippers squad that overachieved all season long.
But once again, Gallinari found himself at the center of a blockbuster. When the Clippers traded for Paul George, Gallinari was sent to Oklahoma City along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a haul of draft picks.
His time in OKC was brief but productive, as he helped lead a Thunder team that exceeded expectations. From there, the carousel continued: he was traded to the Hawks, then to the Spurs in the Dejounte Murray deal. San Antonio, in the midst of a rebuild, waived him, and Gallinari signed with the Celtics-but never suited up due to another ACL tear suffered just weeks after joining the team.
A Final Act and a Full Circle Moment
Gallinari’s last NBA season saw him suit up for three different teams-the Wizards, Pistons, and Bucks-as part of the fallout from the Kristaps Porziņģis trade. He wrapped up his professional playing days with the Vaqueros de Bayamón in Puerto Rico, where he capped his career with a championship and a Finals MVP.
Even in his final year, Gallinari showed he could still contribute, but his legacy isn’t just in the box score.
From 2009-10 through 2019-20, Gallinari hit 1,179 three-pointers-third-most among players 6'10" or taller during that stretch, trailing only Kevin Durant and Kevin Love. He was a prototype for the modern big man: a floor spacer with the handle and feel to create off the dribble, the toughness to battle inside, and the IQ to move without the ball.
He finishes his NBA career with averages of 14.9 points and 4.7 rebounds on 42.8% shooting, including 38.1% from deep. His 11,607 career points are the most ever by an Italian-born player in NBA history.
A Legacy Beyond the Numbers
Gallinari’s impact wasn’t always loud, but it was lasting. He was a bridge between eras-part of the early wave of international players who helped redefine what big men could do on the perimeter. He played in some of the league’s biggest markets, was involved in multiple franchise-altering trades, and consistently delivered as a scorer, even when injuries tried to derail his momentum.
He also remained a proud representative of Italy throughout, playing for the national team as recently as this year’s FIBA EuroBasket.
Now, as he steps away from the court, Gallinari leaves behind more than just stats. He leaves a blueprint for the modern stretch forward, a legacy of resilience, and a reminder that not every star has to shine the brightest to leave a lasting mark.
The journey may be over, but the impact lingers-just like the sound of a basketball bouncing on hardwood, the one that first drew him in.