Danilo Gallinari could miss the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, as he is recovering from a torn ACL in his left knee, an injury he suffered in late August and cost him the 2022 FIBA EuroBasket and the 2022/23 NBA season.
The Italian forward has yet to appear in a Boston Celtics uniform and revealed that he will discuss with the team before making his decision on whether he will join the national team for the Basketball World Cup.
Danilo Gallinari didn’t play in the NBA this year after tearing his left ACL in a FIBA World Cup qualifying game in August.
Will he suit up for Italy in FIBA World Cup?@joevardon examines ⤵️https://t.co/v3n2p5nIVM
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) May 23, 2023
“I think it’s something, just like every year, where I sit down with the team and see what’s going on,” Danilo Gallinari told The Athletic referring to necessary discussions with the Celtics about his recovery. “I’m far away from playing in a game. I’ve started doing a little bit of contact but not like game-type of contact.”
“I don’t know if it’s going to happen this summer,” Danilo Gallinari said, as Italy will play Angola, the Dominican Republic, and the Philippines in the group stage.
Gallinari, who signed a two-year, $13.2M contract with the Celtics as an unrestricted free agent last summer, will miss the remainder of the playoffs, as Boston stayed alive in the Eastern Conference Finals and forced a Game 5 vs the Miami Heat at TD Garden (3-1).
