http://www.nypost.com/seven/07062008/sports/knicks/serbys_sunday_qa_with___danilo_gallinari_118723.htm?page=1


The Post's Steve Serby sat down with the Knicks' No. 1 draft pick.
Q: You're not afraid about the whole world watching while you play [the big stage]?
A: No, no, I'm not afraid.
Q: Why not?
A: 'Cause I like pressure. . . . Since I was 16 years old entering professional league, all the eyes were on me. And in Milan you have to win. . . . every game. So if you not win, that would be not easy. ... So there is a lot of pressure. ... I think it's a part of my job, so I like pressure. ... When I got to throw the [first] pitch [at Shea last weekend], when I practice here [Knicks facility] I was not throwing good pitches. Best one was when I get out of the court, and with 55,000 people, they give me power.
Q: That was your first baseball game. You had a hot dog?
A: Yeah, nice. Hot dog and hamburger also.
Q: Wash it down with a beer?
A: No, no, just Sprite, I like Sprite.
Q: Do you want to take the last shot to win the game?
A: I used to take that shot, so I hope that this year the team will trust me and trust in my abilities to get that shot.
Q: If they do trust you, you would want the ball?
A: Yeah.
Q: With a chance to win the game?
A: Yeah.
Q: Because you're not afraid to miss?
A: No, no, no.
Q: You were a point guard.
A: Last year in the starting five I play like small forward, but if the point guard needs some help because they pressure the ball, I got the ball.
Q: Could you play point guard if the Knicks needed you to?
A: If they need it, yeah.
Q: Is it fun?
A: Yeah, it's the position that I like most. 'Cause I like to settle the team, and try to beat the team in their weakness.
Q: Favorite childhood memory?
A: When my little brother was born.
Q: What's the age difference?
A: Nine years.
Q: Did you hold him at the hospital?
A: I hold him later when they clean him and put all the towels on him.
Q: What was that feeling like when you held him?
A: That was an incredible feeling.
Q: Do you have a girlfriend?
A: No.
Q: Describe the perfect girlfriend.
A: Like physically, or inside?
Q: Both.
A: Physically, has got to be so nice like [chuckle] I don't know, Adriana Lima, you know Adriana Lima? Inside, she's got to be intelligent, smart . . . and my time during the day, she's gotta respect these things.
Q: Does she have to be an Italian girl?
A: No, she could be from every country of the world.
Q: Did you get marriage proposals in the mail in Milan?
A: I remember two.
Q: Did you answer them back?
A: No.
Q: Why, they sent ugly pictures?
A: [Chuckle] No, because in that period, I was with my girlfriend. I was not seeing her so I was thinking about my girlfriend.
Q: Do you speak better English than Mike D'Antoni speaks Italian?
A: [Chuckle]. Is a great battle. Great fight, I don't know.
Q: Your first dunk?
A: In practice, I don't remember, in game, I remember well. I was 15 years old, and it was the final of a little tournament in Italy. . . . I was going on a fastbreak and I dunked, the first time.
Q: Best piece of advice your parents gave you.
A: Do the best of myself in everything I do and everything I do concentrate on what I'm doing, not thinking about other things.
Q: Was that your father or mother?
A: Mostly my father. My mother more watch out about people, think about your family. Your family's the most important thing.
Q: Watch out about people?
A: People that try to come to you and say, "I'm your friend," they are not your friend, and these type of things.
Q: Most embarrassing moment?
A: There was a big meeting in high school, everybody was listening to teachers and things like that, and I was doing like this [leaning back] in the chair, and I fell down, and like the people were looking at me and say, "Hello."
Q: Your 20th birthday is August 8 - how will you celebrate it?
A: I will be with the Italian national team, so I don't know. . . . I will celebrate with a practice [chuckle].
Q: Do you drive in traffic?
A: I got my driver's license in Milan, so if you can drive in Milan you can drive all over the world.
Q: What kind of car would you buy?
A: I like big cars, like SUV.
Q: NBA players you like to watch.
A: I like Kobe [Bryant] and KG [Kevin Garnett].
Q: What is it about KG you like?
A: Because he puts all the power he has on the court, and he plays hard and he plays for the team.
Q: And Kobe?
A: He's simply ... unguardable. You cannot guard him, I think. Even if Paul Pierce this year made a great job. ... Boston in general ... all the team made a great defense. I went to see Game 5 ... phew! They played great defense.
Q: How about LeBron [James]?
A: He's like a big man but he moves like a point guard. He's not human.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: Michael Jordan; Larry Bird; Angelina Jolie.
Q: Did your father tell you any funny stories about Mike D'Antoni [his Milan teammate]?
A: I let Mike talk about that [smile]. Mike lived all the stories, I only heard about stories.
Q: Where do you shop?
A: I don't like to go shopping.
Q: But you wear Armani.
A: Yeah, yeah. But I don't go shopping because all the clothes come to my house [smile]. They send clothes to my house.
Q: You've done modeling?
A: They put big posters on buildings in Milan and things like that.
Q: Your nickname is Gallo?
A: It means rooster. But here, in USA., if you talk about rooster, everybody smiles or get fun about that. In Italy, Gallo is a great nickname. Everybody respect that.
Q: People will be calling you the Italian Stallion.
A: Yeah, it's nice also.
Q: Sylvester Stallone . . . ?
A: He was the best one. He is the Italian Stallion. If they want to call me like that, it's OK, but my nickname is Gallo.
Q: Favorite meal?
A: Sushi; gnocchi with gorgonzola cheese.
Q: What kind of sushi?
A: Every type of sushi.
Q: Have you been to Nobu?
A: Yeah, yeah. We got one Nobu in Milan, because it is in the same building of Armani.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: "Man On Fire "American Pie."
Q: Favorite actor?
A: Denzel Washington.
Q: Favorite actress?
A: Angelina Jolie.
Q: Favorite entertainer?
A: Justin Timberlake.
Q: Give me a scouting report about your game.
A: That I play hard and I play with heart and give everything for the team. The other technical things, I let you say that, or the coaches say that.
Q: Your message for Knick fans?
A: Come to see the games, and let's win some games ... together.

Yea, I read it earlier

Q: Give me a scouting report about your game.

A: That I play hard and I play with heart and give everything for the team. The other technical things, I let you say that, or the coaches say that.

Let me tell you, 6'10" guys with ball skills can present a big problem even when they lack toughness (see KVH) or heart (see Fugazy). I get the impression DLo does NOT lack either.

I love this kid. Lets hope he's this good on the court.

So when are they gonna post his RBK ads?

Posted by islesfan:

It's amazing what people get from fluff interviews and youtube HIGHLIGHT clips.

At the same time Isles, it's amazing the kind of opinion you've based for yourself, off those same youtube highlights and potential Italian league sterotypes..

Posted by nixluva:

Posted by islesfan:

It's amazing what people get from fluff interviews and youtube HIGHLIGHT clips.

This is the problem. It's not JUST the interviews and highlight clips. The guy did actually PLAY games and lead his PRO team to victories. He actually did take the ball and setup the teams last shot in many games. For a guy at his position and size that's a rare talent. While we don't expect that he'll be able to do all of that in the NBA, some of it should translate into effective skills on this level.

Unlike past Euro picks who hadn't done anything yet to prove that they could live up to their potential Gallo has actually started to show signs of being able to do do that. There's no guarantee, but he's at the least more likely to be successful than many of his less successful counterparts.

He's started to show signs of living up to his potential?!? Where exactly?

Oh wait, you must still be talking about Euroleague games. He hasn't proven a damn thing. Stop acting like he has. Parroting what the Knicks say about him doesn't make it true or translatable to the NBA.

Posted by nyk4ever:

Posted by islesfan:

It's amazing what people get from fluff interviews and youtube HIGHLIGHT clips.

At the same time Isles, it's amazing the kind of opinion you've based for yourself, off those same youtube highlights and potential Italian league sterotypes..

You're right, the Italian League is right up there with the NBA and the defense in those highlights was on par with the 94 Knicks. The 14/4 he averaged over there will easily translate to him being a superstar over here.

What was I thinking?

Posted by nixluva:

Isles I wonder what exactly is your problem with Gallo as a prospect? Why should he get any less respect than any of the American players who've done no more than he has?

I don't think that highly of all American players either. Why should I blindly respect Gallinari's?

Posted by nyk4ever:

Posted by islesfan:


You're right, the Italian League is right up there with the NBA and the defense in those highlights was on par with the 94 Knicks. The 14/4 he averaged over there will easily translate to him being a superstar over here.

What was I thinking?

Yeah but Isles when it comes down to it, you are making the same assumptions about him that everyone else is.

How so? The odds of an Italian League player making it big in the NBA are really small. Why? Because success over there does not translate to the NBA. So the basis for my assumptions have much greater validity than those saying that he's going to be so successful here as some people have suggested.

Posted by nyk4ever:

Posted by islesfan:


How so? The odds of an Italian League player making it big in the NBA are really small. Why? Because success over there does not translate to the NBA. So the basis for my assumptions have much greater validity than those saying that he's going to be so successful here as some people have suggested.

How does any assumption have more validity than another? Both are questioning the unknown and anything can happen to change it.

I don't get how anyone can go either way on this. As you said, there is too much of an unknown here and we should ALL just wait to see what he can do, whether you think he's going to be good or bad based off our own assumptions.

An assumption based on something tangible, like past evidence, is more valid than one based on hope.

Posted by islesfan:


An assumption based on something tangible, like past evidence, is more valid than one based on hope.

No doubt there is hope involved with people hoping he play well, but let's not minimize the fact that you are hoping he sucks too.