Danilo Gallinari wants to play one more year in the NBA, rules out coaching career

Danilo Gallinari talked to Sky Sport Italy about his desire to continue playing in the NBA in what would be his 17th season in the league. “Only 80 players in NBA history have been able to have a career that lasted 17 or more years. To become the 81st? It honors me and makes me proud to be able to try,” his words. Gallo - in the NBA after being called to the 2008 Draft by the Knicks with the sixth overall pick -, stresses how difficult it is to stay in the league once you get in. “It's difficult though,” he admits, “especially in a world like the NBA where the average length of a career does not reach 5 years. There are every year new players coming in, so staying in the league is complicated. You have to be good, clearly, and you have to know how to behave, understand what your role is, which sometimes means also accepting roles you don't like. I am happy with my career, but now I really hope to organize myself somehow for my season No. 17 in the league.” 

And speaking of the future, he confirms that he wants to stay in basketball, but not as a coach like his brother Federico. “I'm definitely not going to coach, I'm not going to do what Federico (the younger brother, who joined the Detroit Pistons' coaching staff) does, but there is no shortage of options: I will evaluate them in due time.” For now, the Rooster is not thinking about it, waiting for a new call from the NBA.