Only a rare and elite few get to leave a lasting mark in the NBA, either through earning individual accolades or creating unforgettable highlights. Some are just lucky and skilled enough to last at least 10 years in the league.
That is the case for Danilo Gallinari, who has officially retired from professional basketball this past week.
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Although his 14-year stint was not enough for him to become a bona fide NBA star, despite his huge potential, which was hindered by career-altering injuries, spending six years with the Denver Nuggets was enough for him to be remembered and loved by the team and its fan base.
Because of this, former Nuggets coach George Karl, who coached him during that span, believes Gallinari should be immortalized in Denver.
“Gallo should have his number retired in Denver,” he wrote on X. “He was a key part of the bridge between the Melo and Jokic eras.”
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Should Gallo’s jersey be retired in Denver?
After playing two seasons with the NewYork Knicks, who picked him sixth overall in the 2008 draft, Gallinari was shipped to Denver as part of a three-team deal that landed Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups in New York.
Anthony resurrected the Denver franchise when he was drafted third overall, leading them to seven playoff appearances, including a Western Conference Finals appearance in 2008-2009, the season before he was traded.
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His departure left a huge void, one that the Italian forward and the new-look Nuggets sought to fill.
Gallo was a crucial part of the 57-25 Nuggets during the 2012-2013 season, where they faltered against the Golden State Warriors in the first round in six games. However, an ACL injury would force him to miss the remainder of that and the 2013-2014 season. He averaged 16.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists on the Nuggets.
Although his numbers were solid and he injected energy into the fanbase, Gallinari’s No.8 jersey should not be retired.
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Denver has retired numbers of Hall of Famers, like David Thompson and Alex English. A Gallinari jersey on the rafters of the Ball Arena would water down the significance and prestige of the tradition.
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Numbers Karl believes should be retired by Denver
Coach Karl, who led the Nuggets from the sidelines for nine seasons, gave an interesting list of whose jerseys he thinks deserve to be retired and honored in Denver. Other than Gallo, the list included himself, coach Mike Malone, Bobby Jones, and Carmelo.
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“Others deserve the honor first – starting with Melo and also including Coach Malone, my ABA and UNC guy Bobby Jones and, probably, yours truly. I’m ready!” he wrote.
Some of his candidates are no-brainers, such as him and Malone. Karl helped bring the Nuggets back to relevance, while Malone led the team to their first championship. Jones has a strong case, having spent four years and played an important role in the Nuggets’ transition from the ABA to the NBA. He was crucial in building the franchise’s foundation.
Finally, Melo – the most controversial of all. We all know what he did for Denver, how much success and popularity he has brought to the franchise, though it never really amounted to a finals appearance or, let alone, a title.
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But he asked out of Denver, which many fans did not take lightly. And most importantly, the No.15 jersey belongs to none other than Nikola Jokic. His resume, generational talent and all-time greatness can speak for themselves. He led the team to the 2023 title. The Nuggets would simply be irrelevant without him.
Had either Melo or the Joker worn different numbers, then both of their jerseys could have been retired by the Nuggets. But as it stands, Jokic wears No. 15; he is the ultimate Nugget, and he will be immortalized at the end of his Hall of Fame-level career.
Only that level of greatness, impact and loyalty from a player or coach should be honored with a banner.
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This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Dec 7, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.