Danilo Gallinari of the Boston Celtics suffered a knee injury while playing for the Italian National Team in World Cup qualifiers. Gallinari was injured in the fourth quarter of a FIBA World Cup Qualifier against Georgia.
Gallinari was driving to the basket when his left knee appeared to buckle. He was removed from the game after preliminary treatment on the sideline.
Italy’s head coach Gianmarco Pozzecco said he feared Gallinari tore his left ACL. “I hope and I pray that nothing bad will come out. It was… it is an honor coaching him. I saw pain in his eyes”, Pozzecco added.
Subsequently, reports came out that Gallinari’s left ACL, which has already been repaired, is intact. Gallinari is set for an MRI on Sunday.
Gallinari signed a two-year, $13.3 million contract with Boston this offseason. Gallinari said he had dreamed of playing for the Celtics since he was a young boy growing up in Italy.