Even with a substantial three-year match at the Atlanta Hawks, the dream of returning to play the Azzurri at Olimpia is still alive Danilo Gallinari. Here is all his love for Milan in the interview with Luca Chiabotti della Repubblica.
Milano. With Milan I have a special relationship, of love, it is my home. My mother has always loved it, my father has played with it for many years, it is a place that represents a lot for me also for the history of my family. Since I lived there permanently, Milan has changed a lot. At that time the Pirellone was the highest building but today I think it is not even in the ranking.
Resident. I live in the Roman area, but the first house I had was on the island and then it wasn’t as beautiful as it is now, with piazza Gae Aulenti, the vertical forest. The pace of life has not changed, however, which resembles that of New York. Just walking through the streets of Milan is a fig, I can never stay there more than a month a year, so even the simplicity of taking a walk is beautiful.
Friends and basketball. Then I like to go and play at the Campetto with friends. Undisturbed no. Almost. Usually we are enough to play a 5 vs 5 game, I play with good friends, Serie A2, B. Sometimes we insert someone to make up the number, but during the game we just play and try to make it last as long as possible. When there is a water break, yes, it happens that the boys come to meet me, take pictures, autographs. But I’m glad. In America it would never occur to me to play at the Campetto.
Playground. I helped to redo the fields of largo Marinai d’Italia and viale Sarca. It all started from the regret of seeing untreated and vandalized pitches in a city that would have plenty of spaces to play basketball, more than 120. With a friend of mine, Michele Ponti, we started We Playground Together, Covid stopped us after the first two interventions, there must have been three. But we will go on ”.
Lockdown. I experienced the lockdown in Oklahoma City, with my family we imposed ‘Italian’ rules because there was a lot of laxity here and few people really protected themselves.
European basketball. If I can, I watch the matches or the highlights, especially the Euroleague. Which I don’t do with the NBA that I never see beyond my work. I follow Armani as a fan, they are a good team, they started well. She is full of people who have won a lot and she has to aim high because whatever there is to win is within her reach.
I dream of Milan. I don’t know if Milan in 4 or 5 years, when I finish with the NBA, will be at the same level and will have the same goals as today. But playing at Olimpia, in a strong and ambitious team like the one now, remains a dream for me.
