Reflecting on his career, Danilo Gallinari recently wrote a social media post filled with nostalgia about his time on the Oklahoma City Thunder. It was just one season out of his 14 years in his NBA journey, but it clearly holds a special place in his heart.

Gallinari enjoyed one of his better seasons with the Thunder. He was part of the infamous 2019 Paul George blockbuster deal alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a treasure trove of NBA draft picks.

From the jump, Gallinari showed he was more than just a throw-in name in the historic deal. He helped the 2019-20 Thunder be the surprise team of the season. He averaged 18.7 points on 43.8% shooting and 5.2 rebounds. He shot an eye-popping 40.5% from 3 on 7.1 attempts.

Playing alongside Chris Paul, it was a fun cast of characters that season who embodied being greater than the sum of their parts. All of OKC’s top players that season were at different junctures in their careers. From Gilgeous-Alexander learning in his sophomore campaign to Paul revitalizing his career.

“On the court, just like in life, it’s all about the people. For me, Chris Paul has always been a friend, an example, and a true leader,” Gallinari wrote on social media. “I’ll never forget when he surprised the whole team at the start of the season, gifting every player a custom-tailored suit. A thoughtful gesture that spoke louder than words.”

Ask any Thunder fan, and it was probably one of the more fun seasons to follow. Especially since everybody expected them to tank from the start and habitually rest Paul. Instead, the future Hall-of-Famer rewrote his narrative and returned to being an All-NBA player.

The Thunder went on to be a playoff team that was on pace for 50 wins before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down and shortened the regular season. In The 2020 NBA Bubble, they pushed the Houston Rockets to Game 7 in a Round 1 playoff series.

“Proud to have been part of that group,” Gallinari wrote. “And of a friendship that still lasts today.”

Because of injuries and not being part of many winning situations, Gallinari flew under the radar. He was one of the more underrated scorers in the NBA’s 2010s. He could get you an efficient 15-plus points while being a threat to get hot. A perfect mix of size and skill made him the perfect modern-day frontcourt player.

Throwback to those OKC days 🔙

For me, CP3 has always been a friend, an example, and a true leader.

I’ll never forget when he surprised the whole team at the start of the season, gifting every player a custom-tailored suit.

Proud of a friendship that still lasts today 💙#OKC pic.twitter.com/CHdweZsXpX

— DANILO GALLINARI (@gallinari8888) October 10, 2025