Veteran NBA forward Danilo Gallinari announced his retirement from basketball on Tuesday.
Drafted sixth overall in 2008 by the New York Knicks after four professional years in his native Italy, he spent 16 years in the NBA, playing 14 seasons. Gallinari, 37, was the second-highest Italian pick in league history, only behind Andrea Bargnani, who was selected No. 1 overall in 2006.
“It’s been an incredible journey filled with countless memories that I will carry with me for the rest of my life,” Gallinari posted on social media. “Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”
Gallinari spent time with the Knicks, Denver Nuggets, LA Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics (no games logged), Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks. He played over 70 games in only two seasons and lost two full seasons to ACL tears (2013-14 and 2022-23).
Today, with a heart full of gratitude, I am announcing my retirement from the career I’ve always dreamed of.
It’s been an incredible journey filled with countless memories that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. 🏀❤️ pic.twitter.com/UjRhTL8ZdP
— DANILO GALLINARI (@gallinari8888) December 2, 2025
Though his career was plagued by significant injuries, the 6-foot-10, 236-pound skilled forward amassed 11,607 points in his career, the most for any Italian. He poured in 1,456 3-pointers, the sixth-most by any player in NBA history who is at least his height. Kevin Durant, Dirk Nowitzki, Rashard Lewis, Peja Stojaković and Kevin Love are the only players 6-10 or above with more.
After missing much of his rookie year due to a back problem, he averaged 15.5 points over the next season and a half in the Big Apple. He was a major piece in the package being traded from New York to Denver in 2011 in exchange for All-NBA forward Carmelo Anthony.
He was a significant asset in Denver, averaging 16.2 points on the 2012-13 Nuggets team that won 57 games and was the third seed in the Western Conference that year before he tore his ACL late in the regular season.
Gallinari played the most years of his career in Denver (five and a half seasons). On April 10, 2015, he scored a career-high 47 points in a double-overtime 144-143 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. A season later, in 2015-16, he averaged a then-career-high 19.5 points per game. In 2018-19, he averaged 19.8 points a night with the Clippers.
He made one Eastern Conference finals, coming off the bench for the Atlanta Hawks in 2021. He finished his career with averages of 14.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. He shot 38.1 percent from deep over the course of his career.
Gallinari was often referred to as “Gallo,” which is Italian for rooster. Gallinari signed with Reebok in 2008, and his player-edition shoes featured a rooster logo on the heel. He was also known as the “Italian Stallion,” an ode to his nationality.
Having not appeared in the NBA this season, this past summer was his last foray into professional basketball as he competed in the Puerto Rican league, the Baloncesto Superior Nacional, with Vaqueros de Bayamón alongside fellow former NBA veteran Javale McGee. There, Gallinari won the league title and the championship series MVP award.
