A former $45 million Denver Nuggets combo forward is reportedly open to an NBA return.<\/p>\n
The Nuggets may not need his services per se, but perhaps some NBA squad could take a flier on the 36-year-old sharpshooter<\/p>\n
Danilo Gallinari may have been drafted by the New York Knicks and enjoyed a (marginally) more prolific scoring season on the L.A. Clippers, but he logged his longest sustained NBA run with the Nuggets.<\/p>\n
Would the NBA be Open to a Danilo Gallinari Return?<\/p>\n
Now, it appears Gallinari may not quite be done with the NBA, despite having hung up his sneakers after 2024.<\/p>\n
Per\u00a0Iacopo De Santis of Pianeta Basket, the 6-foot-10 vet may be contemplating a comeback.<\/p>\n
Gallinari also said he would like to have one last year in the NBA. <\/p>\n
“Hopefully, I always hope so. If I were to return, it would be as a veteran, kind of like insurance for a franchise. I wouldn\u2019t play much and would serve as a helpful presence”. pic.twitter.com\/LHRMbVoJG5<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Iacopo De Santis (@iacopodesantis) August 24, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n \u201cI always hope so. If I were to return, it would be as a veteran, kind of like insurance for a franchise,\u201d Gallinari revealed. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t play much and would serve as a helpful presence.\u201d<\/p>\n Gallinari was one of the standout pieces returning to Denver in the three-team trade that sent 10-time All-Star combo forward Danilo Gallinari to the New York Knicks at the 2011 season deadline.\u00a0<\/p>\n MORE NEWS:\u00a0New Nuggets star hoping to medal in EuroBasket \u2014 despite major disadvantage<\/a><\/p>\n Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Anthony Carter, Renaldo Balkman, Shelden Williams and Raymond Felton all arrived from Denver.\u00a0The Minnesota Timberwolves flipped big man Kosta Koufos to the Knicks and a future second-round draft pick to the Nuggets, and the Knicks flipped center Timofey Mozgov, forward Wilson Chandler, one first-round pick and two second-rounders to Denver. The Knicks also shipped out Anthony Randolph, guard Corey Brewer and center Eddy Curry to the Timberwolves.<\/p>\n Gallinari emerged as the standout return piece in the exchange. Just a year later, he inked a four-season, $42 million rookie scale contract extension, and followed that up with a $45.2 million extension in 2015. He eventually agreed to a three-season, $64.8 million deal with the Nuggets in a sign-and-trade with the L.A. Clippers.<\/p>\n Across a 14-year season with the Knicks, Nuggets, Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks from 2008-24 (he missed the entire 2013-14 and 2022-23 seasons with ACL injuries), the 37-year-old averaged\u00a014.9 points on .428\/.381\/.469 shooting splits, 4.7 boards, 1.9 dimes, and 0.7 swipes in 777 regular season bouts.<\/p>\n Gallinari also technically was with the Boston Celtics, but he never suited up for them while recuperating from his ACL tear in 2022-23.<\/p>\n He split the 2023-24 season between three clubs, posting a combined career-worst average of 5.7 points on .437\/.323\/.857 shooting splits, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists for the Wizards, Pistons and Bucks.<\/p>\n This past season, Gallinari joined Puerto Rican squad the Vaqueros de Bayamon, earning a title and a Finals MVP for his efforts.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not saying it\u2019s impossible, but I consider it very, very unlikely. The more time passes, the more complicated it seems,\u201d Gallinari revealed, per De Santis<\/a>. \u201cIn order to return to Milan, you have to be wanted. Even during my last years in the NBA, I thought about coming back to Milan. But again, to return, you have to be wanted. It\u2019s not like I wake up one morning, make a call and say, \u2018Hey guys, I\u2019m ready to come back, do you want me?\u2019 That\u2019s not how it works.\u201d<\/p>\n MORE NEWS:\u00a0Nuggets MVP Nikola Jokic’s Serbian teammate responds to EuroBasket expectations\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n