NBA: Longtime NBA Forward Danilo Gallinari, 37, announces retirement

Danilo Gallinari Announces Retirement from Basketball at Age 37

Longtime NBA forward Danilo Gallinari announced his retirement from professional basketball on Tuesday at the age of 37.

“Today, with a heart full of gratitude, I am announcing my retirement from the career I’ve always dreamed of,” Gallinari wrote on X. “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.”

The New York Knicks selected the 6-foot-10 Italian with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. Gallinari went on to play 777 games over 14 NBA seasons with eight different teams, averaging 14.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. He also made 1,456 career three-pointers.

Gallinari spent the most time with the Denver Nuggets, appearing in 303 games from 2011 to 2017, and played his final NBA game with the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2024 playoffs. He also had stints with the Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Washington Wizards, and Detroit Pistons. His career was hampered by injuries, causing him to miss two full seasons (2013-14 and 2022-23) due to ACL tears.

Among NBA players born in Italy, Gallinari ranks first in points (11,607) and rebounds (3,618), and second in assists (1,469).

In addition to his NBA career, Gallinari played professionally in Italy from 2004 to 2006 and again in 2011, as well as in Puerto Rico, where he earned Finals MVP honors in August 2025 as Vaqueros de Bayamon captured the league championship.

Gallinari’s retirement marks the end of a remarkable international basketball career that left a lasting legacy both in the NBA and overseas. -Field Level Media/Reuters