Danilo Gallinari still thinks that the Boston Celtics would have won the NBA title in the season that he joined the team, if only he had not hurt his knee playing for the Italian National Team in FIBA play the summer before. We won’t engage with the tired refrain of the point of view he should not have been suiting up for his national team given the absurdity of such a position. But one can’t look back at that moment in Celtics history and wonder if the now-retired forward had a point.
Gallinari recently made a guest appearance on the “White Noise” podcast of fellow Boston alum Derrick White and his cohost Alex Welsh, and among the many topics discussed in the wide-ranging talk was his fondest memories from his time in the NBA. “I think the winning years are better than losing years for sure,” he said.
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“So I always say that my four best teams and four best seasons were my third year in Denver (with the Nuggets), the year that I got hurt, my second year in Denver, (the) season in (Los Angeles with the Clippers) my year in (Oklahoma City with the Thunder), and then my year my first year in Atlanta (with the Hawks),” continued Gallo.
Jan 3, 2023; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Boston Celtics forward Danilo Gallinari (8) during the second quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
“These were three, four very good teams,” said the Celtics alum. “It would have been amazing my Boston year. I really believe that with my help, we could have gone to the championship.”
“We could have won a championship, but it’s easy to say this now, but we had a (chance). It was because my two chances of winning a championship were Denver that season, I tore my ACL. Boston, I tore my ACL.”
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Danilo Gallinari still believes Celtics would have won a title with him