Danilo Gallinari says stop: "It has been an incredible journey"

Danilo Gallinari announced his retirement from playing basketball at the age of 37 through a post published on his Instagram account. “Today, with a heart full of gratitude, I announce my retirement from a career that I have always dreamed of – wrote the Rooster – A career built with hard work, sacrifices, victories, defeats, teammates who became brothers, the guidance of my coaches and, of course, family and friends who have been by my side at all times. It has been an incredible journey, full of memories that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. To those who believed in me, to all who supported me, and to those who shared every moment with me: thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I can’t wait to start this new chapter!”.

Luca Giorgetti

In the video released by the blue wing, she scrolls through her best plays during her very long career with a message of d’love to basketball in the background: “I don&#8217t remember when you really came into my life, maybe the day I heard the ball bounce for the first time or maybe when I realized that beyond that sound there’was something more. You have been a dream, a refuge, a constant challenge. You made me grow and become great, you made me fall, you made me get back up and you taught me to never stop believing and trying. Together we experienced moments that have become snapshots in my scrapbook of memories”.

“Thanks to you I met wonderful people, friends, opponents, fellow travelers. In every duel, in every cry, in every exultation there&#8217s a piece of your story, of our story. So I say thank you, with a heart full of gratitude for every fall, for every comeback, for every cheer and for every silence and most of all for teaching me who I am on and off the field. Our journey does not end here, only the destination changes. Not because the love has ended, but because sometimes feelings change and every story needs a final chapter. You will always be a part of us. Thank you” Gallinari concludes.

Gallinari wore the jerseys of Casalpusterlengo, Edimes Pavia and Olimpia Milano in Italy before being named as the sixth pick by the New York Knicks at the 2008 NBA Draft. In the NBA, he wore the jersey of nine teams: the New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks. Finally, he ended his career in Puerto Rico at the Vaqueros de Bayamón with whom he won the tournament MVP championship. With Italy he made 83 appearances, bidding farewell to the national team after the loss to Slovenia, which cost him elimination from the European Championships.