The Denver Nuggets have had plenty of interesting players in recent memory, and one of their former stars is hoping to get back on an NBA floor.
The Nuggets have seen most of the past decade dominated by the incredible talents of Nikola Jokic. Ascending to the top of the franchise’s all-time list in just a few years, Jokic has ushered in the best era in franchise history.
While it would be easy to simply forget about what happened before Jokic’s arrival, the years leading up to the Serbian star’s emergence were critical. Of course, an Italian star was at the forefront of the Nuggets’ attack for much of the 2010s.
Danilo Gallinari plotting NBA return
During his time with the Nuggets, Danilo Gallinari was sometimes overlooked as a player who was simply taking advantage of high usage on a middling team. However, he contributed to winning teams throughout his career and was able to shine in Denver when the circumstances were right.
While the former Nugget hasn’t played in Denver since 2017 and hasn’t been in an NBA game since 2024, he could still be eyeing one last dance in the league. In a recent interview with Iacopo De Santis, Gallinari revealed what he would want out of a return to the league.
"Hopefully, I always hope so,” Gallinari said. “If I were to return, it would be as a veteran, kind of like insurance for a franchise. I wouldn’t play much and would serve as a helpful presence.”
While there is no current indication that Gallinari will be playing in the NBA again, he is leaving the door open.