European Prospects

Gallinari is actually one of the best International players of the 1988 generation. The Italian forward is leading his team Armani Jeans Milano in the Lega A and in the Euroleague. So it is time to give an update on his progress.

After an injury this summer that prevented Gallinari to participate at the Eurobasket and the beginning of the season, he is now back and stronger than ever. 15.0ppg and 4.7rpg are impressive numbers for a 1988 born forward in the Euroleague. And besides the last game against Efes Pilsen, Gallinaria has always scored in double figures due to accurate three point shooting and aggressive moves to the basket.

He is also very good in drawing fouls so that he is a regular visitor of the free-throw line. But what in my opinion is the most interesting part of his game, and what really makes him different from Nicolas Batum, is his leadership and mental presence on the court. Gallinari wants the ball in close situations and also makes good decisions in these crucial moments.

Another interesting part of his game is that Gallinari already knows how to use his good size for European SF standards by going to post up his opponents. When coming to the downside, you can say that Gallinari is not quickest forward ever. The question however is if this speed is not the result of a controlled game in preference to overexecuting and trying to push the game too hard.

In fact, Gallinari’s drives work out especially because of good defensive reading and great fluidity and ball handling in traffic. These kind of qualities may have risen the comparisons to Dejan Bodiroga that you can find on Draftexpress. However, Gallinari’s athleticism looks superior to Bodiroga’s when Dejan was more of a defensive reader and winner than Gallinari is (right now). But this athletic difference makes him a real NBA prospect, something that Bodiroga has never really been at his prime; also because of a different approach of the game by NBA franchises.

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