The Atlanta Hawks have rostered plenty of international talents throughout their lengthy history, including former forward Danilo Gallinari.
Following an impressive tenure at Olimpia Milano, NBA scouts were all over Gallinari. He had just been named the EuroLeague's Rising Star and helped the Italian national team win the bronze medal in the FIBA Europe U-20 championship.
The New York Knicks took him with the sixth-overall pick of the 2008 NBA draft, and, given an escape clause in his contract with Milano, he took his talents to the U.S. to pursue a career in the top basketball league on earth. He briefly returned in 2011 during the lockout before returning to the NBA, where he'd play for six teams, including the Hawks from 2020 until he left after an injury-filled 2023 season.
Fans always wondered if the Italian forward would eventually return to Olimpia Milano after openly discussing being open to such a move throughout his career.. Unfortunately, it looks like that's not going to be possible any time soon. In an appearance on the Cresta Alta podcast, Gallinari didn't sound optimistic about a return to the Old Continent.
Former Hawks Forward Danilo Gallinari Sheds Light on Basketball Future
Gallinari is currently with the Italian national team ahead of EuroBasket. He's fresh off winning the championship with the Vaqueros de Bayamón of Puerto Rico's BSN, also earning BSN Finals MVP honors. Unfortunately, that might not be enough for Milano to reach out to him:
"I have never received a phone call from Milan. To come back, you have to be wanted. At 37, it’s now very difficult to return to Europe for both basketball and non-basketball reasons," he said, per Pianeta Basket.
"Let’s make this clear once and for all. First of all, in order to return to Milan, you have to be wanted. That it was my dream? Of course it was – it always has been. I’ve always said it. Even during my last years in the NBA, I thought about coming back to Milan."Danilo Gallinari
While injuries derailed his promising career, he was always known for his efficient three-level scoring. In 117 games (22 starts) with the Hawks, Gallinari averaged 12.4 points and 4.4 rebounds with .434/.392/.915 splits. He also played for the Knicks, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Washington Wizards, Milwaukee Bucks, and Detroit Pistons.
Gallinari is now 37 years old and inching closer to the end of his basketball journey. The former Hawk just showed that he can still play at a high level, even if it's not in the NBA. Whether he'll get another chance to play for his beloved team remains to be seen.