Two years later in the national team, two years after the knee injury with subsequent operation, yet another tribute to bad luck and the blue tank top. But the presence of Danilo Gallinari cannot be surprising, not even at the age of almost 36 (he will turn 36 on August 8). Because the Rooster has always been there when he could. and yesterday he took the plane to San Juan in Puerto Rico.
Gallinari, how do you feel? Even at 35 years old and after a difficult NBA season due to the situations she experienced, she said yes.
“I feel great, I’m ready. The 35 years don’t matter, the desire to play basketball always prevails, just as I’ve always been available when I could.”
We were saying, a difficult NBA season due to franchise changes.
“Yes, it’s difficult for various reasons. In Washington and Detroit the corporate direction was different, they were aiming for future reconstruction. In Milwaukee I thought I had another role, we had talked about it. But then we had injuries, we never managed to find ourselves at full strength. In short, changing three cities, with a family, was difficult.”
But his priority remains the NBA.
«Of course, I still feel like I can have a role, give a lot. The most important free agents will sign at the beginning of July, then we will evaluate the offers. I’m still looking for a highly ambitious team.”
Yet in Milan the fans and Olimpia are still waiting for her.
“It’s hard, it’s hard. Even when I go back to Milan for a short time and see friends, I feel the affection walking down the street, it’s honestly hard. But for this year they will and we will have to wait.”
The Italian pre-Olympic team against Bahrain begins on Tuesday: what do you like about this national team that has been rediscovered after two years?
«The spirit, the chemistry that is there. It’s always a pleasure to be with these guys, on and off the pitch. Then for a few years we have been playing together, we know each other by heart. And so we find each other easily.”
Lithuania could be the finalist in San Juan. You know Domantas Sabonis well, you faced him. Tell us about it.
«He is a very physical player, he has an impact despite not being very tall. He has important potential, technically complete, he also carries the ball. He hits in the box, but he also has a good long shot, he has more size. And above all he knows how to pass the ball very well, this is in dad Arvydas’ family DNA. In short, he is really very dangerous in attack, we will have to defend as a team, but having a phenomenon like Nicolò Melli will be easier. In defence, however, he is attackable, also because he gives a lot in attack.”
Let’s stay in the NBA, his impressions on the Lakers’ choice of Bronny James.
«It’s a beautiful story. Seeing the son playing with his father will be a thrill for everyone. And then I followed him a bit in the Draft combine in Chicago and he did well. In short, Bronny has quality.”
However, the pressure will be all on the shoulders of the boy, who has already had to overcome the well-known serious health problems.
«Yes, he will have pressure, but it’s difficult to evaluate, you would have to know the boy well. Bronny has an advantage: the dad, LeBron is quite unattainable eh.”
Four Frenchmen were chosen in the first round of the Draft (Risacher, Sarr, Salaun in the first 6, plus Dadiet), 20 non-Americans (plus Buzelis, of Lithuanian origins) out of 58 called. And the last 6 MVP awards went to foreigners. The NBA is increasingly global, it is different from the one you arrived in 2008 chosen at No. 6 by New York.
“Definitely. It has changed in every way. At the time, international players were looked at as white, technically gifted, good at shooting and stopping. Incapable of defending. Now, thanks to what we have shown, international players are sought after and we are respected on the field by US players too.”
You have already played at the Tokyo Olympics and up to the quarterfinals. What would going to Paris mean?
“It would be a dream and, given my age, it’s my last chance. I played in Tokyo, a special edition, in the Covid era, without an audience. In Paris it would be great. And in my case it would also be a sort of reward for the eight summers in which I had to give up the national team because I was injured. I would say I’m a bit in debt with fate. And it would be wonderful to share the emotions with the other many Italian champions, for all of them I’d mention Gimbo Tamberi with whom I have a long friendship”.
2024-06-30 11:18:19
#desire #beats #age #Future #NBA
