http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/31172/180/item

Rising Star Trophy winner: Danilo Gallinari, AJ Milano

A silky-smooth forward with a great shot and a solid all-around game, Danilo Gallinari of Armani Jeans Milano made instant impact on courts around the continent this season and has been rewarded with the 2008 Euroleague Rising Star Trophy in a vote of the competition's head coaches. The teenage forward, who came into the season with but two minutes of Euroleague experience under his belt, quickly became not only a top scoring threat for Milano, but a team leader. Gallinari dealt with everything that opposing defenses threw at him and wound up among the top 10 regular season performers in index rating. Besides leading Milano in scoring with 14.9 points per game, Gallinari was among his team's top three players in rebounding, steals and blocked shots. "I enjoyed myself playing the Euroleague this season, even though I would like to have played more games," Gallinari said. "I hope to play another Euroleague and reach a lot further in the competition."

The four-year old Rising Star Trophy recognizes the best Euroleague Basketball player who was younger than 22 on July 1 of the summer before the season started. Partizan Igokea center Nikola Pekovic is the runner-up, forward Nicolas Batum of Le Mans placed third and center Omer Asik of Fenerbahce fourth. The Rising Star Trophy is among several end-of-season honors awarded by Euroleague Basketball. Already announced has been the Alphonso Ford Top Scorer Trophy, the only statistics-based award, which went to Marc Salyers of Chorale Roanne. The Best Defender Trophy is still to be awarded and the nominees for the All-Euroleague team announced. The All-Euroleague first and second teams, plus the Euroleague MVP, will be revealed at the Euroleague Basketball Awards Ceremony on May 3 during the Final Four in Madrid. The Aleksander Gomelskiy Coach of the Year Trophy and the Euroleague Club Executive of the Year are post-season awards.

Gallinari, who turns 20 in August, never looked like a teenager on the court this season. His basketball pedigree surely helped. Gallinari's father, Vittorio Gallinari, was an Italian basketball star in the 1980s and early 1990s, best known for his work on the defensive end of the floor. Vittorio Gallinari won the 1987 Euroleague crown with Milano and also played for the Italian national team. Despite missing the first two games of the season through injury, the younger Gallinari stepped right in when ready and promptly dropped 18 points and 7 rebounds in his first Euroleague game as a starter. He reached the 20-point mark the next week – the first of four 20-point games he would mark up in the regular season. Moreover, Gallinari seemed to rise to the occasion against the toughest teams, averaging 23.5 points on 53.3% two-point and 38.5% three-point shooting, 4 rebounds and 3 steals in two games against Maccabi Elite, the only team from Milano's Group B that would eventually qualify for the Final Four. He also hit the key three-pointers down the stretch to lead Milano to its only home win of the season in January against Aris TT Bank. Consistency was a big part of his success and Gallinari scored in double figures in all but two appearances all season. Gallinari is the fourth winner of the award and the third to come from an Italian club. Last season the award went to Rudy Fernandez of DKV Joventut. The 2006 trophy was awarded to Andrea Bargnani of Benetton Treviso and in 2005 the winner was Erazem Lorbek of Climamio Bologna.

How does it feel to be the Rising Star Trophy winner in your first Euroleague season?

"Obviously, it's a great feeling. It gives me great satisfaction and it's a reward for the job I did during the season with the team, and individually with the coaches. I recognize it as a great accomplishment."

What do you think of the fact that two of the four winners so far are Italian and another played in the Italian League?

"That's a great sign for Italian basketball and a good result, especially, for Italian players. I hope to see very soon that more Italian teams rise up and reach the best European level."

How did you enjoy your first Euroleague season?

"It's a very high-level competition. It's more physical, and everything is more difficult, especially going to the basket. The speed is also higher, so you have less time to take decisions. I enjoyed myself playing the Euroleague this season, even though I would like to have played more games. I hope to play another Euroleague and reach a lot further in the competition."

You witnessed a 50 Years celebration in Milan during the season. What does this anniversary mean to a rising star like you?

"It's a great sensation to play for a team like Olympia Milano, that has done so much in the past. It's an honor for me to wear this jersey and it pushes me to always give my best. I hope in the future that Olympia will again reach the kind of results they had when my father was playing."
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Euroleague.net

THis guy passed the test against tougher competition than down on the plantation.

One aspect of attraction mentioned was he has had weak coaching during his season yet still improved.

YOu look for players who assimilate quickly when they are faced with bigger and faster competition. This is true with most sports.

I think the kid will start slow and hope he gets up to speed with the NBA sooner than later.

This is certanly an interesting pick and captivates my interest to follow him as a fan. I'll root for his success and root for Walsh and his staff.

Posted by tkf:

Posted by Nalod:

THis guy passed the test against tougher competition than down on the plantation.

One aspect of attraction mentioned was he has had weak coaching during his season yet still improved.

YOu look for players who assimilate quickly when they are faced with bigger and faster competition. This is true with most sports.

I think the kid will start slow and hope he gets up to speed with the NBA sooner than later.

This is certanly an interesting pick and captivates my interest to follow him as a fan. I'll root for his success and root for Walsh and his staff.

Nice post. I also noticed that the 3rd and 4th place finishers, Batum and Asik were guys that some in this forum were wetting their pants over.... Go figure.....

I like this kid, and I am interested in seeing how well he does for us..

Notice the 2nd, 3rd and 4th place finishers were picked 31st, 25th and 36th in the draft. Gallinari was a reach at 6.

It's funny watching people suck up to the EL and Gallianri when NOBODY thought this highly of him before he was picked. People need to stop talking themselves into this pick. There was a reason why you wanted other players taken ahead of him. "Well, I didn't want him but I blindly trust Walsh and D'Antonio." Bunch of freaking sheep.

Exactly Fish. I've been saying since the draft that I don't know how people can comment either positively or negatively on a player that no one has seen play. I will reserve judgement on Gallo after I've seen him play a bit. For right now though, Gallo is going to get the benefit of the doubt based on Rod Thorns comments on the kid, the NBA Director of Scouting's comments on the kid and as well as the fact that Walsh picked the kid.

I think what it comes down to is that some people on this forum are far more concerned with being the first to say something so they can be "right" if a player is good or bad rather than just letting things happen.

Posted by islesfan:

Posted by tkf:

Posted by Nalod:

THis guy passed the test against tougher competition than down on the plantation.

One aspect of attraction mentioned was he has had weak coaching during his season yet still improved.

YOu look for players who assimilate quickly when they are faced with bigger and faster competition. This is true with most sports.

I think the kid will start slow and hope he gets up to speed with the NBA sooner than later.

This is certanly an interesting pick and captivates my interest to follow him as a fan. I'll root for his success and root for Walsh and his staff.

Nice post. I also noticed that the 3rd and 4th place finishers, Batum and Asik were guys that some in this forum were wetting their pants over.... Go figure.....

I like this kid, and I am interested in seeing how well he does for us..

Notice the 2nd, 3rd and 4th place finishers were picked 31st, 25th and 36th in the draft. Gallinari was a reach at 6.

It's funny watching people suck up to the EL and Gallianri when NOBODY thought this highly of him before he was picked. People need to stop talking themselves into this pick. There was a reason why you wanted other players taken ahead of him. "Well, I didn't want him but I blindly trust Walsh and D'Antonio." Bunch of freaking sheep.

Oohhh and you really forgot someone of probably more recognition and thats CDR. Didn't he rise to the occasion in the NCAA tourney yet he was picked 40?

It really didn't matter who we picked @ 6. If it would have been Augustin most fans would have overlooked his height and would have kissed the ring of King Walsh and Prince Pierre Wee Wee saying at least we got us a pure point, If it would have been Bayless most fans would have said D'Antonio Sabato Jr. must have saw something special in the kid during workouts and their dinner conversation must have revealed a lot, If it would have been Randolph most fans would have said the kid has probably the greatest potential of all projects, just hit the weights/gain some weight and prove the naysayers wrong, If it would have been Joe Alexander there would have been an untold amount of fans who would have claimed he was their guy all along.

We do this every yr almost on every transaction this organization makes it doesn't matter. The definition of what's being done is defined as holding out hope instead of being overly pessimistic. In actuality it's called fickle fans who are an emotional wreck from being jilted all these yrs who have turned desperate and slightly irrational.

[Edited by - TrueBlue on 06-30-2008 10:32 AM]

Posted by fishmike:

I am assuming the sheep comment was directed at tfk and Nalod as I never commented negatively or positively on Gallinari. Unlike some I do not pretend to have knowledge about players that I have not seen play.

I was always clear on who I wanted. I was also clear on who I didnt want. I wanted nothing to do with Bayless, Augestine, Lopez and Gordon. Some around here are in love with 6'2 shooting guards. I am not. I did say as much about Bayless that if Walsh picked him he and DAntoni must have thought enough of him for it to be worth it and I would remain open.

I know nothing about Gallinari, aside from what I have read from those who have scouted him or watched in play and those reports are all glowing.

Based on every draft grade review from every major publication it seems as though we took the BPA.
ESPN, draftexpress, nbadraft.net, yahoo, cnn-si all gave us either an A or a B. Maybe those guys are just riding each other but I have yet to see anywhere from anyone that reviews these things professionally that we did a bad job in this draft.

So to sum up about a player I know very little about:
Scouting reports are very positive
We drafted a guy that wants to be here and play in NY
We drafted a guy regarded as being tough and intense
We drafted a guy with great upside
We drafted a two way player
I trust and am willing to be patient with any move Walsh makes as his history of evaluating talent is among the best in the league.

The rest is wait and see.

This applied to players picked below him. Look I've said and will say again the guy may turn out to be a good player. What I took issue with is people trying to translate what his basketball career over in Euro will be here, in the NBA/NCAA and posting it as fact. No one has no idea. If you want to look up Youtube videos and read sites touching on this kid's background and talent more power to you. Just be mindful Lampe probably had similar if not greater things said about him as he entered the league. We need to be tempered on the pic. To be honest my issue isn't so much with Gallinari looking at his pick in vacuum vs us not getting bang for our buck with pick 6, being greedy or bust in the draft, not acquiring more pics with cash, being locked in on a pic 1 yr ago, getting I SAY UGHs input on the draft, not making a trade on draft day to move up or down. All we did was walk away with an unknown project who's upside could be good sorry that's nothing to get real excited over.

Oohhh and you really forgot someone of probably more recognition and thats CDR. Didn't he rise to the occasion in the NCAA tourney yet he was picked 40?

It really didn't matter who we picked @ 6. If it would have been Augustin most fans would have overlooked his height and would have kissed the ring of King Walsh and Prince Pierre Wee Wee saying at least we got us a pure point, If it would have been Bayless most fans would have said D'Antonio Sabato Jr. must have saw something special in the kid during workouts and their dinner conversation must have revealed a lot, If it would have been Randolph most fans would have said the kid has probably the greatest potential of all projects, just hit the weights/gain some weight and prove the naysayers wrong, If it would have been Joe Alexander there would have been an untold amount f fans who would have claimed he was their guy all along.

We do this every yr almost on every transaction this organization makes it doesn't matter. The definition of what's being done is defined as holding out hope instead of being overly pessimistic. In actuality it's called fickle fans who are an emotional wreck from being jilted all these yrs who have turned desperate and slightly irrational.

You could say the same exact thing on the opposite side. No matter who we picked unless it was Rose, Mayo, or Beasley someone would have negative opinions on it just like some will have a positive opinion on it.

Im still waiting for Ty Thomas, Marcus Williams, Chris Taft to be the superstars they were supposed to be. David Lee isn't supposed to be as good as he is right now.

The Knicks need a mentality change, an attitude adjustment.

Heart, Passion, Intensity, Unselfishness, Good teammate, Effort.

Gallinari from what I have read brings all these things.

If these are the qualities of the players that we are going to start bringing in from now on then I have no problem with that.

Posted by islesfan:

Posted by tkf:

Posted by Nalod:

THis guy passed the test against tougher competition than down on the plantation.

One aspect of attraction mentioned was he has had weak coaching during his season yet still improved.

YOu look for players who assimilate quickly when they are faced with bigger and faster competition. This is true with most sports.

I think the kid will start slow and hope he gets up to speed with the NBA sooner than later.

This is certanly an interesting pick and captivates my interest to follow him as a fan. I'll root for his success and root for Walsh and his staff.

Nice post. I also noticed that the 3rd and 4th place finishers, Batum and Asik were guys that some in this forum were wetting their pants over.... Go figure.....

I like this kid, and I am interested in seeing how well he does for us..

Notice the 2nd, 3rd and 4th place finishers were picked 31st, 25th and 36th in the draft. Gallinari was a reach at 6.

It's funny watching people suck up to the EL and Gallianri when NOBODY thought this highly of him before he was picked. People need to stop talking themselves into this pick. There was a reason why you wanted other players taken ahead of him. "Well, I didn't want him but I blindly trust Walsh and D'Antonio." Bunch of freaking sheep.

none of us thought highly of him, but he was rated as a top 6 prospect in the draft well before the knicks had the 6th pick.

Posted by martin:

Posted by TrueBlue:


I said I'd be pissed if we didn't draft him but also said I could live with a pick(s) that addressed immediate needs.

EG does not solve an immediate need.

I said immediate needs and didn't prioritize them but Jamal sucks Azz as a starting 2 guard plus we don't have a Dynamic player on our roster. I mean I thought we had spots 3/4 locked up between Chandler THE MAYOR and David Lee Rock Star Roth. I surely hope you don't think Jamal is our future 2 guard?

Posted by TrueBlue:

Posted by islesfan:

Posted by tkf:

Posted by Nalod:

THis guy passed the test against tougher competition than down on the plantation.

One aspect of attraction mentioned was he has had weak coaching during his season yet still improved.

YOu look for players who assimilate quickly when they are faced with bigger and faster competition. This is true with most sports.

I think the kid will start slow and hope he gets up to speed with the NBA sooner than later.

This is certanly an interesting pick and captivates my interest to follow him as a fan. I'll root for his success and root for Walsh and his staff.

Nice post. I also noticed that the 3rd and 4th place finishers, Batum and Asik were guys that some in this forum were wetting their pants over.... Go figure.....

I like this kid, and I am interested in seeing how well he does for us..

Notice the 2nd, 3rd and 4th place finishers were picked 31st, 25th and 36th in the draft. Gallinari was a reach at 6.

It's funny watching people suck up to the EL and Gallianri when NOBODY thought this highly of him before he was picked. People need to stop talking themselves into this pick. There was a reason why you wanted other players taken ahead of him. "Well, I didn't want him but I blindly trust Walsh and D'Antonio." Bunch of freaking sheep.

Oohhh and you really forgot someone of probably more recognition and thats CDR. Didn't he rise to the occasion in the NCAA tourney yet he was picked 40?

It really didn't matter who we picked @ 6. If it would have been Augustin most fans would have overlooked his height and would have kissed the ring of King Walsh and Prince Pierre Wee Wee saying at least we got us a pure point, If it would have been Bayless most fans would have said D'Antonio Sabato Jr. must have saw something special in the kid during workouts and their dinner conversation must have revealed a lot, If it would have been Randolph most fans would have said the kid has probably the greatest potential of all projects, just hit the weights/gain some weight and prove the naysayers wrong, If it would have been Joe Alexander there would have been an untold amount of fans who would have claimed he was their guy all along.

We do this every yr almost on every transaction this organization makes it doesn't matter. The definition of what's being done is defined as holding out hope instead of being overly pessimistic. In actuality it's called fickle fans who are an emotional wreck from being jilted all these yrs who have turned desperate and slightly irrational.

[Edited by - TrueBlue on 06-30-2008 10:32 AM]

I don't agree with that. I can tell you this. I wanted rose, we know that was a done deal on lottey night.. So I said my other options would be mayo first, bayless and I would not be upset with gallinari. I also said, I would love a later pick to get agustine... So had we gotten bayless I would have been OK, mayo, I would have been elated, agustine at 6, I would have been upset..

So after getting gallanari and reading the articles, watching his clips for over a month, I can just assume that walsh and co. Liked him enough to take him over my second and third choices,for me, that is not a draft breaker. I am going to get behind this kid, because I trust walsh and frankly I like what I see so far.... I am not going to get upset because my second, third and fourth choices were chosen one ahead of the other..... LOL.. As far as being called sheep. Another idiotic comment... I know you didn't say it, but it just goes to show that some people just don't want to be happy, getting behind your team means waiting to see how things shape out before we pass judgement(thats foolish)..... Call us sheep, but I rather be a sheep than a fool...