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In an appearance on the Run Your Race podcast, the 36-year-old Italian forward recalled following Team USA practice in 2008. Before his rookie NBA season, he was in Las Vegas as Kobe and his international teammates were preparing for the Olympic Games in Beijing, China. “He’s like listen, stay here a little bit more this practice because Kobe wants to meet you,” he remembered a message delivered by a member of the coaching staff of the United States, who was also working with Gallinari and preparing him for his first NBA season. “I stayed there, I waited, you know he’s icing, stretching, you wait maybe an hour after practice. And then you know, not a lot of people in the States can say my name right, and there I hear somebody say, ‘Hey Danilo, come here. ’ In Italian, ‘Danilo, come here.’ Who’s speaking Italian in Vegas at Team USA practice?, I look and it’s Kobe,” described Gallinari, “He’s walking with the ice on his knees and everything. I’m walking down the stairs, and I’m there talking to Kobe. So that was amazing, he gave me his shoes. I go back to my room, and there is a letter that he wrote for me.”
The former Knick revealed the story of how he met Bryant on the Run Your Race Podcast. According to him, Bryant spoke to him in Italian after a Team USA practice during the summer of 2008. “I'm watching them practice and the trainer of the Knicks is with me and he was one of the trainers of the Team USA too,” Gallinari said about meeting Bryant. “And he's like listen, stay here a little bit more this practice because Kobe wants to meet you. I’m like really? So I stayed there, I waited, you know he's icing, stretching, you wait maybe an hour after practice. And then you know, not a lot of people in the states can say my name right and there I hear somebody say ‘Hey Danilo come here,’ In Italian ‘Danilo come here.’ Who’s speaking Italian in Vegas at Team USA practice. I look and it's Kobe. So he's walking with the ice on his knees and everything. I'm walking down the stairs and I'm there talking to Kobe. So that was amazing, he gave me shoes. I go back to my room and there is a letter that he wrote for me.”
Danilo Gallinari: "You feel guilty. You’re chasing a job, a dream, and sometimes that means missing your kid’s first school play. Or uprooting them from friends. You tell yourself it’s temporary, but they don’t always see it that way. They want routine, a bedroom that doesn’t change every few months. It’s hard. And you carry that with you."
Iacopo De Santis: Danilo Gallinari said this will be his last summer with NT, but he also talked about retirement: "I honestly don’t know, the plan is to finish the season in Puerto Rico and play at @EuroBasket. But honestly, even with basketball in general, as of today, I just don’t know".
Italy is currently on the trail of Donte DiVincenzo, the Minnesota Timberwolves guard who is of Italian descent, and is hoping for Danilo Gallinari to return to the lineup. Pozzecco confirmed that he's trying to sign DiVincenzo up as a naturalized player for this summer's tournament. "We're working on the DiVincenzo case and I'll go and talk to him soon," he pointed out. "It would be helpful. But what's needed is a passport, which he doesn't have today, and the willingness to play, which exists," he added. "However, that must be confirmed at the call, in order to avoid other cases like [Paolo] Banchero," he said, referring to the All-Star forward's talks with Italy before opting for Team USA.
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Danilo Gallinari: From Denver to Bayamón… It’s been a few years, but we’re ready to shine together again 🙌 Welcome back, @JaValeMcGee ! 📹 by @VaquerosBSN #VaquerosBSN
Danilo Gallinari signs with team in Puerto Rico
16-year NBA veteran Danilo Gallinari has signed a deal in Puerto Rico with Vaqueros de Bajamon, Gallinari announced on X. Gallinari thanked Carlos Arroyo for the opportunity to play, noting that the contract includes an NBA out clause if someone wants to sign him before the deadline. Gallinari also hints at his potential retirement soon, as he expresses his "hope for a great ending" in the azzuro jersey of Italy NT.
However, as it stands right now, the longtime NBA veteran isn't ready to call his NBA journey quits. He's reportedly doing everything he can to further his NBA playing career by at least one more season. According to an interview with 'La Repubblica', the 2008 Italian League MVP is still holding out hope of an NBA return. "A return to Italy? Not yet," Gallinari said. "There is still time for [me in] the market, anything can happen at any time. Miami? It's not my time yet, there are other free agents and we'll decide later. It could be anywhere, as long as it's a competitive franchise," said Gallinari.
Danilo Gallinari wants to continue playing in the NBA
In an interview with 'La Repubblica', Danilo Gallinari declared that he wanted to continue looking for an opportunity in the NBA, excluding the possibility of a final season in the EuroLeague. "A return to Italy? Not yet," he replied.
"There is still time for [me in] the market, anything can happen at any time. Miami? It's not my time yet, there are other free agents and we'll decide later. It could be anywhere, as long as it's a competitive franchise," he argued.
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Gallinari is currently training with Treviglio, a Serie B team. According to 'La Prealpina' , moreover, next season will probably be Gallinari's last as a player. After retiring, Gallo would intend to continue his career as an executive -- preferably in the NBA.
Jae Crowder, Dāvis Bertāns, Danilo Gallinari, former Sixer Thaddeus Young, and Philly native Lamar Stevens are among a free-agent pool of power forwards the Sixers can pick from. Sources have said the team had some level of interest in Bertāns.
Tearing his ACL only a few weeks after signing with the Boston Celtics, one of the best Italian players ever lost the opportunity to contend for a championship straight away alongside Jayson Tatum and his teammates. Later on, he moved to Washington, Detroit, and finally to Milwaukee. After two years of absence from national team action, he came back to playing for Italy once again against the same red-and-white opponents. He ended up winning the first friendly game of the summer, being named MVP of the 2024 Trentino Basket Cup after scoring 13 points over 9/10 at the line. Catching up with the media in the aftermath, he shared his emotions behind such a comeback. “It’s a special return for me, especially after what happened two years ago, against the same team. It’s beautiful to come back on the court with these guys”, he first stated.
Head coach Gianmarco Pozzecco has announced a 30-player preliminary roster for the Italian national team’s Pre-Olympic Tournament in Puerto Rico. The list features Milwaukee Bucks‘ Danilo Gallinari, but notable absences include Simone Fontecchio and Gabriele Procida due to injuries. John Petrucelli and Grant Basile are in contention for the naturalized player spot.
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