Gallinari: “It was the right time to stop, I won’t become a coach”

Milan, Dec. 4 (LaPresse) – “The future? I’m taking it easy, even though I’m working on many things, both inside and outside of basketball. I’m continuing projects I started as a player. I’d like to stay in basketball, not as a coach because I don’t have the right characteristics, but I’d like to work as a manager, in the front office. At the moment, however, I’ve put everything on hold until 2026, we’ll see what happens later. The NBA Europe issue is also moving quickly and there will be time to talk about that too.” This is what Danilo Gallinari told Sky Sport the day after his retirement from basketball. He has already been in contact with the Italian federation. “I am in contact with Gigi Datome, and I am available to help him in any way I can. I also spoke with coach Luca Banchi about how I could be of assistance. There are many Italian players here in the United States, so perhaps I will lend a hand from here to closely monitor these situations,” he added. On how the decision to retire came about. “I was thinking about quitting the national team after the last European Championship. Then, when I got home and talked it over with my family, especially my dad, who’s been through the same thing, I finally decided to quit. The arrival of my third child shifted my focus to other things, other plans,” Gallo admitted, “to my family. The physical aspect must also be considered. The last year was great but tough, the championship in Puerto Rico was at a crazy pace, 50 games in three months playing 35 minutes per game. Thinking I could do it again was not sustainable. My body and mind made me realize that it was time.”