Welcome to our collection of insightful and inspirational quotes from Danilo Gallinari, the Italian professional basketball player known for his versatility, scoring ability, and sharpshooting prowess. As a seasoned athlete who has played for various teams in both the NBA and international leagues, Gallinari’s journey embodies resilience, determination, and a relentless pursuit of excellence on and off the court. Whether it’s his thoughts on leadership, perseverance, or the beauty of the game itself, Gallinari’s words carry wisdom that resonates far beyond the basketball court.
Throughout his career, Danilo Gallinari has shared profound reflections that offer glimpses into his mindset, work ethic, and passion for the game of basketball. From his early days as a promising prospect in Italy to his impactful presence in the NBA, Gallinari’s quotes encapsulate the essence of his journey as a professional athlete and a role model for aspiring players worldwide. Below, you’ll find a curated selection of his most memorable quotes, each serving as a testament to his dedication to the sport and his unwavering commitment to personal and collective success.
If you see my history with contracts, it’s never been about money because if it was about money I would have made other choices. Danilo Gallinari
The stats don’t matter to me a lot as long as we win. Danilo Gallinari
You only live one life. Danilo Gallinari
You’ll always find me in the gym, working on my game. Danilo Gallinari
I want to play well, and I want to win. Danilo Gallinari
I love to travel. Danilo Gallinari
Experience I think is a big part of getting better and being a better team and going to the playoffs and toward the championship for sure. Danilo Gallinari
The only thing we can control is the daily work we put in, and that’s all that matters. Danilo Gallinari
I want to be part of the three-point contest. Danilo Gallinari
It’s something that we need to do as players. Giving back is key. And especially because of the reactions and feelings that you get after you give back. Honestly, that feeling is better than winning a game. Danilo Gallinari
I’ve been to Vietnam and China, so it’s great to see new places and experience the culture and people. Danilo Gallinari
We have different rules in Europe and that makes the game different. In regards to contact, there are more things allowed overseas. You can do a lot more ‘dirty’ stuff. Danilo Gallinari
It’s not easy to play with pain. Danilo Gallinari
The player I was overseas, three-point shooting wasn’t my first thing. I was a one-on-one, driving-to-the-basket type player. Danilo Gallinari
Well, Italy is huge for me. I’ve been going back every summer, not just to see my family, but play with the Italian National Team. So, Italy plays a huge role in my life. It will always play a huge role in my life. Danilo Gallinari
It’s tough to lose because when you fight to the end, you want to win. Danilo Gallinari
When you’re a veteran and speak to a lot of these young players, teach them a lot of things, it’s amazing to me the way they’re able to translate that to the court. Danilo Gallinari
I’ve been in love with basketball from the moment I shot my first shot, hanging out with my father. When I was a kid I would stay in the gym waiting for my dad to finish practicing. I was just shooting. Danilo Gallinari
When the shot doesn’t go in, you have to do other things. Danilo Gallinari
I would walk around in all these cities we lived in because my dad would move around so much. I would just walk the streets with a ball in my hand, and my mom holding my other handing waiting to find a hoop to play in. That was my first love of basketball. Danilo Gallinari
When I was 18 it was my last season in Milan. I was 18 turning 19 and it was my last season in Milan and I knew that that year was very important for me. A lot of scouts were coming to every game. Danilo Gallinari
Nothing is ever like home. Danilo Gallinari
I signed with a club when I was 12. I started living by myself at 14. I turned pro at 16. I grew up playing nothing but point guard, and suddenly, I was a 16-year-old small forward matched up against 35-year-old men. Danilo Gallinari
I will work to prove to everybody the type of player that I am. Danilo Gallinari
I’m just focusing on playing the game the right way. Danilo Gallinari
Everybody has their job, their speciality and talents – I can play basketball but I need somebody to help me out with my financial situation. Danilo Gallinari
My focus since I’ve been playing basketball is winning. Danilo Gallinari
Learning from different cultures and talking to people is such a great experience, and getting to use basketball to do that is special. Danilo Gallinari
It’s crazy, because you see these famous actors or actresses and I’m like, ‘Oh, I want a picture with you!’ and they’re like ‘No, I want a picture with you!’ Danilo Gallinari
It makes me feel good, when people say you are important to the team. Danilo Gallinari
In the third level you can have only one American on your team. In the second level you can have two, and in the first level you can have as many as you want. So I was 17 playing against men, some who were 30 or 35. It’s a good way to develop, playing in Europe. You can get better faster. Danilo Gallinari
I don’t like to go shopping. Danilo Gallinari
The thought of someone I love getting sick and dying, and me never getting a chance to see them before it’s too late? That is truly my worst nightmare. Danilo Gallinari
I’m always the first player from either team to take the court for the opening tip, and usually when I get out there the three refs are standing in the same spots every time – one at half court, and then one near each free throw line. Danilo Gallinari
Now to be the NBA player that gets to coach the little kids and talk to them and enjoy time with them, I think is just amazing. Danilo Gallinari
Your family’s the most important thing. Danilo Gallinari
The fact that I can play with a lot of veterans is very good for me, a big motivation for me. Danilo Gallinari
Spending seven to eight hours in the gym every day is not easy. Danilo Gallinari
I know you expect a lot from me, and people expect a lot from me, but I’m not a superstar, I’m not an All-Star, I’m not LeBron, I’m not those great players. Danilo Gallinari
If getting more black eyes helps the team win, I’ll get more. Danilo Gallinari
It’s nice being the first option as long as you’re winning. Danilo Gallinari
I had two big injuries, one in my back my rookie year and when I was in Denver, my knee. Danilo Gallinari
It’s my nature, and I was given this by my parents, to live for those big moments. Danilo Gallinari
I’m an optimist. Danilo Gallinari
The key to guarding Kevin Durant is to play really good team defense. One on one, it’s just tough. So you try to get all five guys to play against him. Danilo Gallinari
My only focus and our only focus as players is to be focused on our job, in the gym and do what we’re supposed to do. We get paid a lot of money to play basketball, and that’s what we got to focus on. Danilo Gallinari
I want it because I love it. I loved it my whole career. I’ve always played with a lot of pressure, since I was a little kid. That’s what I need. That’s what I need to perform at a high level and that’s what I need to bring the best out of me. Danilo Gallinari
My parents taught me a great thing when I was a little kid to not read newspapers or follow the media. Danilo Gallinari
I had small injuries that everybody else has. A little strain, you’re out one week. Twist your ankle, out two weeks. Danilo Gallinari
I got my driver’s license in Milan, so if you can drive in Milan you can drive all over the world. Danilo Gallinari
The food in Taiwan is pretty great. Danilo Gallinari
I love basketball. Danilo Gallinari
I started living by myself since I was 14 years old. Danilo Gallinari
Nobody is going to give you anything. You’ve got to earn everything. Danilo Gallinari
Since I was 16 years old entering professional league, all the eyes were on me. And in Milan you have to win… every game. Danilo Gallinari
It was a really good relationship with the fans in New York – you can ask them. But I felt they were cheering for everybody, not just me. Danilo Gallinari
In the future, I don’t want to look back and say that I didn’t play hard, as hard as I could. Danilo Gallinari
Every time I have a chance to play basketball, it’s great. Danilo Gallinari
Winning is obviously better than losing. Danilo Gallinari
I was born to be a basketball player, not to be a guy who succeeds inside Goldman Sachs. Danilo Gallinari
I’m tired of thinking about playoffs, playoffs, six, seven, eighth spot. I want to think about championship. That’s something that we always thought when I came to Denver. That’s what I felt as soon as I came to Denver coming from New York where we were not winning. Danilo Gallinari
Time goes pretty fast. Danilo Gallinari
I think that everybody wants to play well. Danilo Gallinari
To have the right team is key at the beginning to build your career on the court and off the court. Danilo Gallinari
I’m a very versatile player. Danilo Gallinari
I don’t want to be just a shooter. I want to help the team in other ways because I know I can do that. Danilo Gallinari
You don’t have time to put yourself down or think about negative stuff. Danilo Gallinari
My project is to finish the career in Italy with Milano. Danilo Gallinari
I want big games to prove to myself that I’m a winner and not a loser. Danilo Gallinari
Trying to speak correct English is not easy. Danilo Gallinari
The most important thing about sports is that it gives you the chance to relate with other people, to share in something together and to share a goal with somebody else. Danilo Gallinari
If you don’t like the pressure you shouldn’t play basketball. Danilo Gallinari
I live for basketball. Danilo Gallinari
The different kinds of injuries, you go through a lot of different kinds of pain. But the most painful thing is actually the rehab. You have to go through pain in order to get better. The pain you feel during rehab is actually a good thing, it’s something you have to go through in order to get better. Danilo Gallinari
How can you be negative living the basketball NBA life? It’s impossible. Danilo Gallinari
I think I have to be stronger mentally. Danilo Gallinari
The finance world in general is very, very complicated and there are so many different things that need to be evaluated, but I think at the end of the day, the most important thing is how you want to invest your money – if you want to be a short-term, mid-term or long-term investor. Danilo Gallinari
I like to try the local food no matter where I go. Danilo Gallinari
If at the end of the season it gets better, I’ll take that over shooting good at the beginning and not shooting good towards the end of the season. Danilo Gallinari
Patience may be the toughest thing when you’re injured. Danilo Gallinari
You’ve got to control what you can control. Danilo Gallinari
The nation of Italy has a great, great friend in Chris Paul. Danilo Gallinari
My father, Vittorio, was a big-time player in Italy, but we never talked about basketball. He never came to my games. He said he didn’t want to step on my coaches’ toes. Danilo Gallinari
Whatever the coach wants me to do and needs me to do win, that’s what I’m going to do. Danilo Gallinari
I’m just trying, honestly, to play the game as the game comes to me. Danilo Gallinari
The love and interest the Clippers showed me was amazing. Danilo Gallinari
Coming to Denver, that’s all we talked about – championship and going to the championship. Playoffs was not even a problem. We knew that we were going to the playoffs every season. Danilo Gallinari
You don’t play basketball for 20, 30 years. You only play, if you’re lucky, 10 years. So that is my time. Danilo Gallinari
I love the city. I have a house here. After my career is over, Denver is going to be my city. Danilo Gallinari
Every player responds to different motivations differently. Danilo Gallinari
At 17, I joined Olimpia Milano, the club my dad played for. Giorgio Armani was the sponsor. Everyone wanted to play for Milano because of him. They called him Re Giorgio, King Giorgio. We’d spend entire days at his stores, getting measured and fitted for suits. Danilo Gallinari
When I was a baby, if I cried, my parents didn’t give me a blanket. They gave me a ball and sent me to the little court in our backyard. I must have cried a lot because I was one of those kids who could dribble and shoot at 5 years old. Danilo Gallinari
One life is way too short to be pessimistic, so you’ve got to be positive and optimistic. Danilo Gallinari
I travel all around the world every summer. Danilo Gallinari
The NBA is sometimes a crazy business, and we’ve seen crazy trades and crazy stuff happening the same night of the draft. Danilo Gallinari
I’ll play the 5 if the team needs me to do it. Danilo Gallinari
They never talked about my defense. But every coach I’ve played for, I make them say ‘Oh, I didn’t know about your defense. We’re going to put you on the best players. And the other team thinks that you’re not good, so they’re going to attack you. But we love that.’ Danilo Gallinari
With your mom, you always find ways to talk about stuff. Danilo Gallinari
Anyone who knows me knows that I am a very positive person. Danilo Gallinari
Sometimes I was making my dad mad because I was doing some bad stuff, like kid’s stuff. And he just put the ball in my hands: ‘Go out and shoot.’ Danilo Gallinari
