Danilo Gallinari didn’t have much to go on when his name went into the 2008 NBA Draft. Gallinari had been born in Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, Italy, on Aug. 8, 1988 (hence his choice of jersey number 8). His father, Vittorio, had played professionally there, and Gallinari, by age 19, stood 6-foot-9 and was a top international prospect.

But his country’s NBA roots were meager. Only five native Italians before him had dipped a toe in league waters and only two recent arrivals, Toronto’s Andrea Bargnani and journeyman Marco Belinelli, had played more than 30 games by the time the New York Knicks selected Gallinari with the No. 6 selection.

More than 17 years later, Gallinari announced his retirement from basketball this week. He leaves having played 20 seasons professionally, 16 with NBA teams

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