Even though it was a childhood dream to play for the Boston Celtics, former Boston forward Danilo Gallinari doesn’t begrudge the Celtics for trading him away as part of the package that landed star big man Kristaps Porzingis in Boston. “Betrayed?” asked Gallo rhetorically in an interview with Mundo Deportivo’s Tony Canyameras (translated from Spanish). “No, it’s the nature of the business, I don’t feel bad about it,” he explained.
Part of why he was dealt was the lack of certainty surrounding his torn ACL that had him sit out his sole season on the Celtics roster, but he’s feeling much better with more than a year of recuperation behind him. “I feel good, improving day by day, I am happy with the process,” he shared.
Playing what he calls “a role similar to that of the last three or four years, coming off the bench to help the team by being effective and being one of the best leaders,” Gallinari is being the consummate professional despite being on a rebuilding squad after signing with a contending one.
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Even as a pro’s pro, it’s human nature to wonder how things might have played out had he stayed healthy. “There are many moments when I think about what could have happened if it hadn’t been for the injuries,” Gallo admitted.
He’s lost significant time to injury with the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets before Boston. “And last season I had the opportunity to be part of a ring team and I got injured. There are several ‘what if’ moments.”
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