Milan to turn out for Knicks' Gallinari, D'Antoni
MILAN - For one day, at least, it's probably a good thing that LeBron James didn't sign with the Knicks during the summer. The King's presence here surely would overshadow that of The Homecoming King, Danilo Gallinari, in today's exhibition game against Gallinari's former team, Armani Jeans Milano.
The locals aren't completely upset, but there was some anticipation that LeBron would be in a Knicks uniform for the game, which was sold out in a matter of hours when tickets went on sale in the spring. Now anyone who isn't interested in seeing one of Italy's most celebrated basketball stars - or one of the city's most celebrated basketball legends in Mike D'Antoni - instead can choose to focus on the area's immensely popular soccer team, Inter Milan, which takes on another powerhouse in Juventus.
Yes, only LeBron could have made the Knicks a bigger story on this night.
Still, their game, which will be played before a rare sellout crowd at Mediolanium Forum, culminates four exhausting days for the 22-year-old Gallinari, who has played host for his teammates and kept up a full schedule of appearances and visits for the NBA and for local fans, family and friends.
This is the first live look at the rebuilt roster, so there is a great deal of anticipation for the game from a Knicks perspective. But there's no mistaking whose moment this is.
"I just want to worry about us playing together as a team,'' Raymond Felton said, "but at the same time, I want Gallo to put on the kind of performance he'd want for his home crowd. I'm conscious of that, too."
Amar'e Stoudemire said the game plan is "to let him enjoy himself and show out . . . give the fans what they're looking for."
What a difference a year and 10 new teammates makes, eh, Gallo? Last season he often was open on the wing and confused by the decisions of some players to look away from him. Was there jealousy from some players who didn't like the fact that Gallinari was a D'Antoni favorite and someone who excited the Garden crowd? Perhaps some veterans, especially ones playing for another contract, weren't interested in deferring to the young European.
It's a situation Gallinari won't deny but also refuses to discuss. He'd prefer to talk about the future, not the past, and if the future means he'll have the ball in his hands a lot more, don't expect it to mean a lot more shots. Even in front of the home crowd against his former team.
So a 50-point night is probably not going to happen unless Felton and Co. throw him the ball and then run back on defense.
"You know me and you know that I'm not that kind of player," Gallinari said. "If I wanted to do it, I'd play a bad game. So I have to play a team game like I always play and put my teammates first and then me, because that's my mentality. I cannot go away from that."
Gallinari has relished the role of showing off his hometown city to his teammates. They have gone out as a group each night to enjoy some of the finest restaurants and nightclubs.
"I showed them a little bit," he said. "These days are flying . . . It's too short."
A few feet away from the conversation stood a man who absolutely could relate. Vittorio Gallinari shook his head and smiled as he considered what has become of his son, who used to earn ovations from the crowd when he would shoot during halftime of his father's games.
"Everything is happening so quickly," the elder Gallinari said. "If I close my eyes, the [NBA] draft is just yesterday. [Today's game] is the continuation of the story."
It's the story of a boy who grew up dreaming of leaving Italy to become an NBA player. And now has returned.
"Danilo won't say it," Vittorio said, "but it will be a very emotional day for him.''
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