GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Danilo Gallinari expects a warm reception when he returns home to Milan, Italy with his Knick teammates, but he says it should pale in comparison to how head coach Mike D’Antoni is received.
“I know that you guys don’t know a lot about what Mike did over there, but for a guy like me who grew up playing basketball in Italy, Mike is an idol,” Gallinari said Wednesday after the team’s last practice before departing to face Armani Jeans Milano Sunday in an exhibition. “He’s one of the best players who ever played in European basketball.”
D’Antoni played 13 seasons for Milan of the Italian League and became the club’s all-time leading scorer. He was voted the League’s all-time greatest point guard in 1990 and paced Milan to five Italian League titles and numerous other championships. He also met his wife, Laurel, there.
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