Thursday, April 25, 2024

Knicks take first foreign player, Gallinari, with sixth pick in 2008 Draft

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By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher

The New York Knicks drafted Danilo Gallinari as the sixth overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. Gallinari is the first foreign player of the draft so far.

Gallinari already has several years of professional playing experience overseas. He began playing in 2004 with Casalpusterlengo.

Armani Jeans Milano basketball player Danilo Gallinari drives to the basket against Lazaros Agadakos in action during the Euroleague Basketball Game
Danilo Gallinari drives to the basket against Lazaros Agadakos in action during the Euroleague Basketball Game (Photo by Luca Sgamellotti/Euroleague Basketball/Getty Images)

He was then acquired by Armani Jeans Milano in 2005. Milano then sent Gallinari to Edimes Pavia, where he competed in the 2005-06 season.

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Despite playing half the season after being sidelined with an injury, he averaged 14.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 0.8 assists in 17 games. He was nominated as the Best Italian player of the Italian League Second Division Championship.

Gallinari then played the 2006-07 season with Olimpia Milano. He was named the league’s best player after averaging 10.9 points, four rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.0 assists in 34 games.

He also averages 11.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.1 steals, and 0.9 assists per game in eight playoff games.

Then, during the 2007-08 season, he averaged 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game in 11 games. In his final game, he had 27 points against Maccabi Tel Aviv.

The Knicks finished last in the Atlantic Division with a 23-59 record. They were 43 games behind the Division-leading Boston Celtics, who went 66-16.

New York averaged 96.9 points per game. The Knicks hope that Gallinari will help the team improve on that this season.

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Gallinari is slated to be a power forward for the team. The team had David Lee and Malik Rose play power forward for the team this past season.

David Lee was the team’s sixth-leading scorer this past season. He averaged 10.8 points per game.

Gallinari is the team’s highest draft pick since the fifth overall pick in the 1986 Draft. Kenny Walker was drafted with that selection.

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Anthony Caruso III
Anthony Caruso IIIhttps://thecapitalsportsreport.com
Anthony Caruso III is the Publisher of The Capital Sports Report. He has been in the Journalism field since August 2002. Since that time, Mr. Caruso has covered many marquee events. This includes 13 Heisman Trophy ceremonies, 2 Little World Series events, and one Army-Navy College Football game.
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