Danilo Gallinari: ‘New York/New Jersey or Nothing’
Kids these days, I’m telling you…
The 19-year old Italian forward, reportedley coveted by the Knicks, says he likes New York and New Jersey as possible cities to begin his NBA career. The other 28 NBA franchises? Eh, not so much.
“I like New Jersey and New York. I like those two places,” the Italian forward said matter-of-factly after his one-hour, one-man workout with the Nets yesterday in East Rutherford. “Now I will work out for New Jersey and New York (today), then I don’t know (about) other teams.”
The reason being? He has all the leverage a teenager needs, in the form of a very lucrative multiyear offer from his team in Milan, so he doesn’t have to play in the NBA at all.
The Knicks! They overpaid for their new coach, and now there’s a possibility that they’ll draft a soft Euro with ego for days.
Admittedly, it will take a long time to get over last night’s crushing Laker loss, but man, am I ever glad that I don’t have a rooting interest in teams like the Hawks and Knicks.
40 Responses to “Danilo Gallinari: ‘New York/New Jersey or Nothing’”
Jun.13 at 1:36 pm
Holy Baller says:
I’ve watched clips of this guy play and it looks to me as if he is going to be a major bust, like another Bargnani. I’m not saying that Bargnani was a total flop, but he certainly hasn’t lived up to the hype.
Jun.13 at 1:51 pm
Chukaz says:
IDK what is wrong with this kid. I understand why he would like to live in NYC (don’t understand why he would want to play for the knicks), but I don’t understand why he would want to live in jersey (or play there, do they have cable in Italy? Is he aware of the fact that Kidd ain’t there no more?). I wonder if he is related to the Musilini dude that ruled italy during WWII.
Jun.13 at 2:02 pm
RolleZed says:
He can play, but honestly, a 19 year old teenager can’t act like a NBA SuperStar…
Jun.13 at 2:23 pm
Captain America says:
I know, I know, the kid wants to play for either of two teams that have been sub par. The kids des daze.
Jun.13 at 2:43 pm
Balla says:
Caputo for President
Jun.13 at 2:55 pm
Joey E. says:
he likes the city. he doesnt care about the situation, because dont all lottery teams need improvement? he wants to be comfortable
Jun.13 at 2:58 pm
starbury&stevey says:
who?danilo what??oh come on now…dont ask too much Danilo..take for example yi lilian last year..
Jun.13 at 2:59 pm
starbury&stevey says:
…a bad example.
Jun.13 at 3:14 pm
mat smith says:
d’antoni doesnt want him anyway, he said that at the suns, just cos he is buds with his dad dont mean a thing.
Jun.13 at 3:24 pm
B. Long says:
D-Antonio isn’t gonna let this little european jigglo pass him by. Bet on it.
Jun.13 at 3:36 pm
BxBaller says:
The Knicks better not waste their pick on this loser. It’s funny how these overseas cats think that they’re mad nice, but then come play in the league and get eaten up. Who wants a plate of Gallinari’os.
Jun.13 at 4:00 pm
riggs says:
all euro players should come to the US and play a game of pickup ball with some good cats and be graded on their performance. i bet you theyd get schooled each and everytime.
Jun.13 at 4:45 pm
Holy Baller says:
I agree with Riggs, most of these European ballers can’t hold a match to a scrub on any NBA team
Jun.13 at 5:06 pm
H to the izzo says:
riggs:That wasn’t an idiotic statement.
Jun.13 at 5:08 pm
speedy says:
@ RolleZed
I remember a 18 year old Kobe demand a trade to another team .
Jun.13 at 5:17 pm
RolleZed says:
Yep..ur right. But Kobe act like spoiled rich kid all the time. Just like Gallinari. Maybe ’cause they’re both raised in Italy? lmao…
Jun.13 at 5:20 pm
B. Long says:
@speedy: You don’t remember that. You made it up in your head. He got traded but he didn’t DEMAND a trade. It wasn’t a Steve Francis like situation in the least bit. Damn, do you people live near a nuculear power plant or something, sh!t.
Jun.13 at 5:23 pm
RolleZed says:
And Gallinari has much less talent and potential than kobe had back then…so Gallinari should just shut his mouth and be humble.
Jun.13 at 5:35 pm
d.Y. says:
According to Kobe’s agent Arn Tellum at the time, Kobe playing for the Charlotte Hornets was “an impossibility”. - NY Times. Kobe would only play for LA. Do research before you insult people. Don’t trust your memory, it has proven to be faulty. It’s a jerk move, and if it works, Danilo, like Kobe and Francis, will be allowed to grow into a jerk of a player. As for the leverage situation, just wait til some Euro club offers more than the rookie cap for a top 3 pick.
Jun.13 at 8:20 pm
matt says:
damn guys there r some stupid $h!t comments here for danilo…. you havent seen this guy play a real game and judge already that he’s a bust?? and how many good american players are every year in the draft?? dajuan wagner anyone? or how about kwame brown? or eddy curry and darius miles? it’s not from where you are but how good your game is! and i think everyone has a favorite place to live right?
Jun.13 at 8:27 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Why not say you’ll only play in a few American cities? If he gets drafted by the Nets he could still live in New York. And if he gets drafted by some other team, he could just sign a big deal in Europe. Other teams aren’t gonna want to get franvasquezed.
Jun.13 at 8:46 pm
China baby bot says:
i dont like kobe,i love allen iverson
Jun.13 at 9:23 pm
andrew says:
Being from a country where basketballers get paid less that I do to work full time (Australia), these great euro and American guys (esp. the ones that don’t make it to the L) will either go where the big bucks are (Europe), or go where the lifestyle suits. Most of the non-Australian talent in our home league is here because of the lifestyle, because there is absolutely no chance they are here for the sweet contracts. I think this kid is working with the same ideas in his head - he wants to play somewhere fun (I can’t talk about New Jersey, being that I’ve only ever seen it from the Empire State Building) and New York (Knicks aside) is really fun.
Jun.13 at 10:49 pm
Dacre says:
(also from Australia..and I probably get paid more than Andrew - I work part time…)
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I’m thinking his comments have been taken way out of context. He hasn’t trained with any other teams besides the Nets and NYK so of course he would say he ‘doesn’t know about any other teams’….He could very well play anywhere..? “The Prince of Flop” shall be his new title…
Jun.14 at 6:08 am
karan says:
it’ll be funny if knicks do draft him and then trade him away to milwaukee or utah on draft day
Jun.14 at 6:37 am
BETCATS says:
if the Knicks were smart they would get a pass first PG but they arent so i am being a silly goose for even thinking they were
Jun.14 at 12:12 pm
grano says:
Gallinari said just what he has been told by his american agent
Jun.14 at 1:36 pm
Deuce21 says:
Hey, at least the Sydney Kings got “Whaoo!” Jackson for a few games….
Jun.14 at 11:41 pm
Hursty says:
what happened to my post?
Jun.14 at 11:44 pm
Hursty says:
I was sayong that theres a large section of Italin Americans within NY/NJ and the agents done a smart job because his jersey/gear is going to raise a lot more money than other areas of America because of the relationship he will develop with the local community.
Jun.14 at 11:47 pm
Hursty says:
I dont understand the reason for the comment deletion. It wasnt racially villifying or discriminating and I know it came up because I checked last night. Moderator: please explain.
Jun.15 at 5:58 am
Mitch says:
I can’t find in the article where he says “New York/New Jersey or nothing”… People can read something beside title or not????
Jun.15 at 7:35 am
Mitch says:
I’d like to read “New York/New Jersey or nothing” in the article, but I can’t find those words. Maybe ‘coz Gallo has never told a thing like this.
I’m asking myself: people can read only the title?
Jun.15 at 11:50 am
Sam says:
best thing to do is to wait and see which team will draft him on june 26. It will be funny if both teams dont pick him.
he sounds really corky!
Jun.15 at 10:33 pm
Brandon says:
A soft Euro? Why dont you describe players as dumb blacks? Oh because its racist right. Lousy excuse for a writer
Jun.16 at 10:42 am
BraD says:
Wow.This guy doesn’t seem NBA ready.He sounds like he doesn’t even care too much. I’m a Knicks fan and I hope they don’t pick him.The have had a bad draft history ,lacking “starpower” or a least consistency. Pick somebody proven like Air Gordan or O.J.. P.S. Why Anthony Randolph so hyped?
Jun.16 at 1:48 pm
B. Long says:
@d.Y: Don’t believe everything Peter Vecesy reports. especially when it involves “ex” agents quotes.
Jun.16 at 3:26 pm
Mark Z says:
Didn’t Yi try the same thing? See how that worked out? I think he’ll play wherever if he’s a lottery pick.
Jun.16 at 5:05 pm
gerry says:
(and please, forgive my bad english)
Gallinari said that he wants the Knicks or the Nets because (my opinion) he can see an opportunity to play (D’Antoni knows him very well). Just figure out him in… Detroit perhaps: bench all season long (take a look at Belinelli in San Francisco, and believe me: Belinelli is pure talent). Gallinari is smart, he’s not a dick. In Italy he decided to play one year in the second league just because his purpose whas to develope his skills (and at 17 many European teams made an offer to buy his contract). Apart from that, does anybody want to live in other places than NY?
Jun.16 at 9:47 pm
Dacre says:
He’ll come for the game and stay for the ladies.