OKC Thunder: Danilo Gallinari puts everything on line for team

Galliari opting in greatly enhances OKC Thunder chances

Ultimately, no one on the team or in the fan base would’ve second-guessed him electing to opt-out. The fact he is so adamant about playing speaks to his quality of character. Although he’s talked about loving this squad and playing for the Thunder this action is speaking louder than words.

And, that’s a big deal for the team who excel with him on the court. As Erik Horne of the paid-for subscription, Athletic noted Gallinari owns an important stat with Trae Young this season. Their teams score 15.5 fewer points per 100 possessions when they sit.

The big difference is the Thunder win and often in closing time when Gallo is critically important to the Clutch Time Killer unit. 

Notably, Chris Paul and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander rank fourth and seventh respectively on this list. The trio are the only teammates in the top 10 positions on this list.

Given Steven Adams is a stay at home big man, Gallinari is the perfect complement to him since he spreads the court. Moreover, what OKC Thunder fans learned this season is the full skillset the forward offers. His passing, help defense, and rebounding are all better than most of us knew prior to his arrival. Through 55 games Gallo is averaging 19.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and connecting on 40.9 percent of his 7.3 perimeter attempts.

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Much like Adams can finish the night having set body jarring screens that changes the dynamic of a game, Gallo does all those little things that matter too. His grit isn’t credited enough in this writer’s opinion. And, the timeliness of his scoring has helped OKC shift momentum at key moments in games and capture clutch time victories.

Beyond his overall skillset, the one part of his game that stands out is his consistency. In the 55 games Gallinari has played in an OKC Thunder jersey he failed to reach double-digit scoring once! Similarly, he’s connected on at least one deep ball in all but one occasion.

Gallo may very well be playing his final games as an OKC Thunder roster member in the bubble. Many believe he’ll land elsewhere whether signing directly or via a sign and trade instituted by Sam Presti. Earlier this season Gallinari said he would forego money for winning noting that would take precedent.

The question is — would a deep run by the team in Disney equate to him considering staying in OKC or convince the Thunder brass his presence is key to continuing the R and R era.

We won’t have those answers until the fall. That said, his display of loyalty, commitment to the team, and selflessness sure seem like the type of player the Thunder culture is steeped in.