Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Boston Celtics React to Danilo Gallinari's News on Tuesday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio G Losada | Last updated Dec 2, 2025 12:02 PM ET

Former NBA player and international superstar Danilo Gallinari had an announcement to make on Tuesday.

Gallinari took to his social media accounts and announced his retirement from professional basketball at age 37, closing the curtain on a 16-year career in the NBA, Europe and most recently Puerto Rico.

The veteran Italian forward shared the news with a heartfelt message, bringing an end to one of the most successful basketball careers in Italy’s history.

“Today, with a heart full of gratitude, I am announcing my retirement from a career I’ve always dreamed of,” Gallinari wrote. “A career built through hard work, sacrifice, victories, defeats, teammates who became brothers, guidance from my coaches, and, of course, family and friends that were with me every step of the way.”

Congrats Gallo on a great career and best of luck in your retirement ☘️ https://t.co/UUsnUzePfj pic.twitter.com/NgWteXi9lL
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 2, 2025

“It’s been an incredible journey filled with countless memories that I will carry with me for the rest of my life,” Gallinari wrote. “To those who believed in me, to all those who supported me, and to those who shared every moment with me – thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I’m beyond excited for the next chapter!”

The Boston Celtics, one of Gallinari's teams, at least on paper, reacted quickly to the news of his retirment on X.

“Congrats Gallo on a great career and best of luck in your retirement ☘️,” the Celtics account posted.

Funnily enough, Gallinari signed a two-year contract with the Celtics in July 2022 but never got to play for Boston, ending his tenure in Beantown with a trade to the Washington Wizards less than a year later.

Celtics' rival, the New York Knicks, drafted Gallinari with the No. 6 overall pick in 2008 and he went on to play for nine different NBA teams over 777 games, averaging 14.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Danilo Gallinari is being defended by Gordon Hayward in a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Gallinari's most productive stint came with the Denver Nuggets, where he averaged 19.5 points per game in 2015–16 after helping the franchise win the third-most games in franchise history with 57 victories during the 2012–13 season.

The Italy international finished his professional journey this past summer in Puerto Rico, winning a championship and Finals MVP with Vaqueros de Bayamon.

Gallinari retires as the highest-scoring Italian in NBA history with 11,607 points, and his final NBA appearance came in the 2024 playoffs with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Internationally, Gallinari earned the Italian League MVP in 2008 before arriving in the NBA and represented Italy in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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