The comparison for Danilo Gallinari? Maybe a well-rounded former NBA
player.
"Someone told me that he is like Detlef Schrempf," Gallinari's dad,
Vittorio, told The Post last night.
Vittorio Gallinari knows his son and also knows his son's coach. He
played with KnicksNew York Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni for eight years
in Italy, and for those people who are wondering what kind of player
Danilo might be, Schrempf is an interesting comparison.
"I can say that he could be," Vittorio said of Danilo being like
Detlef. "But I want to see him adjust his play like with the NBA rules
that are different from Europe."
The 6-foot-10 Schrempf played 16 years in the NBA, averaging 14
points, six rebounds and three assists. In perhaps his best season, he
averaged well-rounded numbers of 19 points, nine rebounds and six
assists - for Donnie Walsh's 1992-93 Pacers.
Last night, the 6-foot-8 Danilo received a mixed reaction at the MSG
WaMu Theater. There were some boos, but perhaps it wasn't unexpected.
Fran Fraschilla, ESPN's lead international scout, had told Danilo
leading up to the draft that he'd be booed because people don't know
who he is.
What kind of player is Danilo?
"No one knows him very well because he only played in Europe,"
Vittorio said. "But this year he was the best player in the Italian
Championship, the best young player in Europe."
As for having his 19-year-old son drafted by his former teammate's
club, Vittorio was thrilled.
"It's something unbelievable," he said. "I never expect that my son
first of all would be in the NBA, second in New York, third with Mike
D'Antoni, my teammate for . . . years, as a coach."
And in case you were wondering whether D'Antoni's relationship with
Vittorio had anything to do with the selection, D'Antoni laughed.
"None, if the kid couldn't play, we wouldn't have taken him," D'Antoni
said. "I have a great son, too, but I'm not taking him."
Additional reporting by Marc Berman and Lenn Robbins.
mark.hale RemoveThis @nypost.com
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