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The Sports Xchange

OVERVIEW

Regarded by most professional scouts as the best pure shooter in Europe, Gallinari has had a remarkable following since joining the senior circuit after a stellar performance during the 2004 European Championships for cadets (under age 16) in Greece. He led the Italian team to its best showing in 10 years, as the squad captured the brionze medal in Belgrade. He also took part in the Euro Camp in Treviso in 2004 and 2005.

Gallinari's career was put on hold for several months after the 2004 Euro Camp, as doctors advised him to stop playing basketball due to rapid growth problems. With that illness in check, he performed capably in the Italian League's fourth division for Edimes Pavia in 2005-06. He started 16 of 17 games at the two-guard position, averaging 13.4 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. He showed off his long-range scoring ability, as he made 34-of-73 three-point attempts (46.6 percent), in addition to handing out 13 assists and blocking nine shots, earning Italian Cadet Lega (League) MVP honors.

In 2006-07, he re-joined Armani Jeans, Milano (team had loaned him out the previous two seasons), taking over shooting guard duties for a team that was in what many considered the second-best league in Europe. Gallinari shot 50.6 percent from two-point range (90-of-178) and hit on 35-of-117 three-point tries (29.9 percent).

Gallinari sunk 167-of-203 free throws (82.3 percent), for a total of 452 points, an average of 11.0 per game. He also averaged 3.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.3 blocked shots per game. In the playoffs, he finished with averages of 11.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.1 steals.

With his great shot selection and all-around game, Gallinari captured the 2008 Euroleague Rising Star Trophy in a vote of the competition's head coaches. The teenage forward, who came into the season with but two minutes of Euroleague experience under his belt, quickly became not only a top scoring threat for Milano, but a team leader. Gallinari dealt with a right knee injury that prevented him from playing in Eurobasket competition and the team's early-season games.

Gallinari started 33-of-34 contests between the Euroleague and Italian League (Lega). He poured in 613 points for an average of 18.0 points per game. He shot 52.9 percent from two-point range and 40.4 percent from three-point area, as he also made 188-of-219 shots from the foul line (85.8 percent). He averaged 5.9 rebounds per game while coming up with 68 steals and 43 assists, to go along with 13 blocked shots.

Gallinari was among his team's top three players in rebounding, steals and blocked shots. "I enjoyed myself playing the Euroleague this season, even though I would like to have played more games," Gallinari said. "I hope to play another Euroleague and reach a lot further in the competition."

While Gallinari, who turns 20 in August, never looked like a teenager on the court this season, his basketball pedigree surely helped. His father, Vittorio Gallinari, was an Italian basketball star in the 1980s and early 1990s, best known for his work on the defensive end of the floor. Vittorio won the 1987 Euroleague crown with Milano and also played for the Italian national team.

ANALYSIS

Positives: Has a long, lanky frame with a wide wingspan and room to carry at least another 15 pounds of bulk ... Poised and patient shooter who prefers to take a face-up approach to scoring ... Despite his body length, he is an effective ball handler who keeps the ball low on the floor and is alert enough to secure it away from the smaller defenders ... Versatile athlete with the length to play the three-spot, the long-range shooting skills to operate along the perimeter as a shooting guard and also displays good ball handling and passing skills to earn more than a few minutes at the point, despite his 6-8 frame ... Creates his own shots off the dribble and thrives when putting the ball on the floor first before slashing to the basket ... Well-balanced, showing good footwork attacking the rim ... Long-range rifleman who is very quick with his release, getting the elevation on his shot to prevent bigger forwards from blocking it ... For a player his size, he does a good job of keeping his dribble low (also very capable of shooting off the dribble) ... Has that quick first step to drive to the basket and good lateral movements to either his left or right when slashing ... Solid rebounder with adequate low post skills ... Despite marginal leaping ability, he will execute a dunk every now and then ... Even though he shows adequate leaping elevation from the floor, he has good shooting mechanics with a high release point ... Smart and alert player who makes nice passes to the open teammates when stuck on the perimeter rather than force his own shot ... Even though he lacks good foot speed, he has the lateral agility needed to play small forward and uses it well to get out and defend on others at that position ... Compensates for a lack of speed by using his lateral agility, wingspan and length to cause problems on defense for perimeter players trying to create their shot ... Can get in front of a shooter and use his long arms to alter their shot and has the strength to challenge forwards for position in the paint ... Better leaper when on the move, as he can glide some to finish at the rim ... Very effective at keeping his opponent off balance with his juking and hesitation moves ... Has good eyes to read the defense, doing a very good job of taking angles rather than just driving straight ahead, as he has the body control and motion to squeeze through tight areas ... Very effective at using screens, showing patience while staying in control in his drives to the rim ... If the double team closes on him, he is very capable of finding the open man as the defense rotates ... Has a knack for beating the opponent off the dribble, as he keeps his hands in front of him and active ... Those hands are also very capable of generating the steal ... Regular visitor to the free throw line due to his ability to draw fouls ... Despite his young age, he has a vast knowledge of the game ... Best playing on the perimeter, but also has good in-the-paint skills, going up and under while executing crisp pivot moves ... Has a smooth spin move operating around the offensive rim and does a good job of following his own shot if needed to deliver the put-back ... His long limbs let him take big strides to the basket that smaller defenders have problems keeping up with ... Has good body control and knows how to keep his arms extended to box out his opponent under the basket ... Has a strong low-post game and won't back down from battling an opponent for the ball ... Knows how to draw considerable contact when he glides to the basket, further punishing the opponent with his accuracy and quick release shooting from the free throw line ... More fluid than fast on the court, but will consistently beat his man off the dribble ... Outstanding three-point shooter (note-European three-point range is 20'6" compared to NBA-sized 23'9"), as he is good at spotting up from long range thanks to excellent ball movement and touch ... Does not explode to the basket, but is quick to analyze the defensive scheme and capitalize on its weakness ... When he gets into the lane, he shows a strong drive to the basket and the ability to draw contact while still finishing with good consistency ... Shows very good poise and maturity for a youngster, as it is rare to see him force his shot ... Has a good eye for passing, deferring the ball to an open teammate often ... His ball handling skills would make him an ideal point forward at the next level ... Knows he doesn't have the quickness to run with the smaller guards, but he won't get out-hustled and shows good aggression staying in front of his man to pester the opponent's shot ... Won't hesitate to take a charge and has a good concept for taking angles in pressure defense ... Does a good job of handling defensive switch-offs and has an aggressive nature taking on post players under the basket to secure the rebound (uses his length to compensate for a lack of leaping ability) ... Has great ability to create his own shot, as he freezes the defender with solid pump fakes and hesitation moves to uncork from the perimeter or fire from the low post with a smooth turnaround jumper ... Has very good feel for the flow of the game, as he has the timing and "con" to force the defender to foul or take a side as he slashes to the basket (very rare for a big man to show the balance he has when slashing, as he can easily avoid opponents when running full speed in transition ... Has very good behind-the-back change-of-direction agility, as he can slip between defenders at full throttle, compensating for a lack of blazing quickness with his long stride.

Negatives: Had to stop playing basketball several years ago under doctor's orders due to an abnormal rapid growth process, but the condition is under check ... Lacks explosion moving up and down the court and could lag behind in a fast break attack ... Needs to improve his initial step, as he struggles some to get a side on the defender after executing hesitation moves and pump fakes on the perimeter ... Lacks suddenness in his moves, needing to gather first before getting in motion ... Must work on improving his elevation, as his vertical jump is marginal ... Because of a lack of speed and leaping ability, he is not relied much in attempts to get the rebound or scramble for the loose ball ... Sometimes almost unselfish to a fault and needs to create more offensive opportunities for himself rather than try to feed his teammates ... Gets too perimeter-oriented at times, preferring to hang out and shoot from three-point range rather than drive into the lanes ... Sometimes tries to take the world on his shoulders, resulting in taking too many ill-advised shots and needs to be more selective ... Lacks strength to bang heads with the bigger forwards in the paint, getting most of his boards by slipping under the crowd, but can be boxed out by a stronger defender ... Adequate defender, but you would like to see him step in for a charge more than he does (takes a side on the slasher too much) ... Needs to stay lower in his stance when covering smaller defenders.

Compares To: TONI KUKOC-ex-Milwaukee ... Gallinari might be too light in the pants to play forward at the NBA level, but is tough enough to defend players at that position. He played the point and two-guard mostly in Italy and until his body fills out some more, might be a better fit at the two-guard slot. His three-point range is deadly, but inconsistent and he does struggle to defend vs. smaller opponents, but he has great slashing ability as a scorer and knows how to draw contact to get to the free throw line. He is the type of long range shooter who can strike from anywhere on the court. He is mature beyond his years, showing great patience and court vision. With his ability to create his own shot and his pump fakes and hesitation moves, he easily takes his opponents out of their game. He has also become a deft ball handler, allowing him to earn several minutes at the point.

CAREER NOTES:

In the last three seasons, Gallinari scored 1,293 points (14.1 ppg) in 92 games ... Shot 53.2 percent from the field (244-of-459), 84.0 percent from the foul line (409-of-487) and 38.2 percent from three-point range (132-of-346) ... Hauled in 413 rebounds (4.5 rpg), including 103 from the offensive glass ... Dished out 97 assists (1.1 apg) and had 144 steals (1.6 spg) ... Also blocked 38 shots (0.4 bpg).

2007-08 SEASON

Became the third Italian League player to earn the Euroleague Rising Star Trophy, in a vote of the competition's head coaches, as the award is given out to the best basketball player in Europe ... Started 33-of-34 contests for Armani Jeans, appearing in 11 games in Euroleague competition and the balanced in the Italian Lega ... Totaled a career-high 613 points (18.0 ppg), as he made 118-of-223 field goals from two-point range (52.9 percent), sinking 63-of-156 three-pointers (40.4 percent) while connecting on 188-of-219 free throws (85.8 percent) ... Logged 1,162 minutes of action, grabbing 200 rebounds (5.9 rpg), including 51 from the offensive glass ... Handed out 43 assists (1.3 apg) and had 68 steals (2.0 spg) while also blocking 16 shots (0.5 bpg) ... Scored double digits in every game and produced two double-double performances ... Missed the Eurobasket competition and four early-season games after suffering a right knee sprain over the summer in an contest on Aug. 13.

2007-08 GAME ANALYSIS

Scored 12 points and had four steals with six rebounds vs. Premiata Montegro ... Added 16 points with six boards and six steals the following game vs. Cimberio ... Put up 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including a trio of three-pointers, as he had two steals and eight rebounds vs. Snaidero Udine ... Added 22 points, seven rebounds and three assists vs. Fortress ... Registered 22 points, making 4-of-5 three-pointers, as he grabbed five boards in the Tisettanta Cantu clash ... Scored 21 points to go with two steals vs. Legea Scafati and had his fourth-straight 20-point performance, totaling 22 points, four steals, three assists and six rebounds vs. Air AV ... Ran off a string of three consecutive 20-point games, as he had 20 with seven boards vs. Solsonica, 29 on 7-of-11 shooting from the floor and 14-of-17 from the foul line vs. Seville Wear and poured in 20 more to go with six rebounds in the Scavolini Spar contest ... Grabbed eight rebounds with three assists, a pair of steals and 19 points vs. d'Orlando ... Snatched eight boards, made two steals and scored 15 points vs. Montepaschi ... Followed with 11 rebounds, two steals and 18 points vs. Benetton ... Added 20 points and five boards vs. Cimberio and posted 15 points while taking down 11 boards vs. Lottomatica ... In the Snaidero Udine clash, he scored 28 points, making all nine of his free throws and had three steals ... Grabbed eight rebounds to go with three assists, three steals and 18 points vs. The Fortress ... Totaled 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field, as he also made six rebounds vs. Legea Scafati ... Pumped in 19 points with seven rebounds vs. Upim and hauled down eight boards with five steals and 27 points on 10-of-18 shooting in the second game of the playoff series vs. Premiata Montegro ... In the fourth game of that series, he scored 23 points with 10 rebounds and ended the season with another 10 boards and 27 points vs. Premiata Montegro.

2006-07 SEASON

Appeared in 41 games during the Italian Lega season for Armani Jeans, starting 40 contests ... Averaged 11.0 points per game (452) on 90-of-178 shooting from two-point range (50.6 percent), but made just 39-of-117 three-pointers (29.9 percent) ... Connected on 167-of-203 free throws (82.3 percent) and grabbed 160 rebounds (3.9 rpg), including 46 from the offensive glass ... Credited with 41 assists and 73 steals (1.8 stp) ... Also blocked 13 shots and had 43 turnovers.

2006-07 GAME ANALYSIS

Scored double digits in 28 games, including back-to-back 20-point performances vs. Livorino (21 points, three rebounds, two steals) and Whirpool (21 points, three boards, 13-of-14 free throws) ... Scored 16 points vs. Angelico and 19 two games later vs. Siviglia Wear, as he also had seven rebounds and two assists ... Totaled 17 points and five rebounds vs. Bipop Carire ... Added 19 points, six rebounds and three assists vs. Premiata Montegro ... Later in the season, he tallied 18 points each in back-to-back games vs. Bipop Carire and Lottomatica.

2005-06 SEASON

Started 16-of-17 games for Edimes Pavia at the shooting guard position, logging 470 minutes of action ... Scored 228 points (13.4 ppg) on 62.1 percent shooting from the field (36-of-58), as he made 34-of-73 three-point tries (46.6 percent) and hit on 83.1 percent from the foul line (54-of-65) ... Grabbed 53 rebounds (3.1 rpg), totaled 13 assists and had three steals while blocking nine shots.

INJURY REPORT

2004-05 SEASON

: Gallinari's career was put on hold for several months after the 2004 Euro Camp, as doctors advised him to stop playing basketball due to rapid growth problems.

2007-08 SEASON

PERSONAL

Son of Vittorio Gallinari ... His father was an Italian basketball star in the 1980s and early 1990s, best known for his work on the defensive end of the floor. Vittorio won the 1987 Euroleague crown with Milano and also played for the Italian national team ... Born 8/08/88 in Sant'Angelo, Lodigiano, Italy ... Resides in Milan, Italy.