Dining with Danilo

Since the day he was draft, New York Knicks fans such as myself have had high hopes for Danilo Gallinari. At the same time we also had many doubts, you know with the previous Knicks drafts not going so well. His rookie season was a bust due to injuries, but he’s rising as a sophomore. As he continues to improve his celebrity status will grow as well.

But thanks to close friends, family and Mike D’Antonio he seems to be staying grounded. MSG’s Tina Cervasio recently had dinner with the Knicks starting forward and his family & friends. Watching the videos it looks like he has a good support group around him and in all honesty it looks like a fun group.

Seeing interviews like these from Tina, make you realize these players are just like us and, at least for me, make you appreciate their talent and dedication even more. Here’s the videos, it’s broken into two parts and last about eight minutes.

Here’s part two.

First the interview. It looks like Tina had a great time with this one as Danilo’s friends look like they’re all about a good time. I’ve always liked her work, all the way back to her NESN days, no matter how much I hate that network and anything associated with the Boston Red Sox. She was the one bright spot that made watching Sox games bearable. Since coming over to New York its even more enjoyable to watch these type of interviews as she’s talking with players that us New York fans actually care about.

Now, Danilo and that rising sophomore season. He’s getting minutes, 30 a game and he’s producing. He’s averaging 15.8 points and 4.3 rebounds a game. I’m not going to lie, I didn’t expect this kind of production from him this soon, so it’s nice to see. To make himself worthy of the number eight pick in the draft, he’s going to need to continue to improve. With that being said I’m very impressed with his 47% shooting from behind the arc, especially when you see he attempts seven three-pointers a game.

His early season performances make me think he could be a part of the group that turns these Knickerbockers around. Granted their 1-9 this season, have no first round draft pick but things will eventually be changing come the summer of 2010. He’s one player you know isn’t going anywhere and we at least now he’s one player that can actually produce (if healthy).

Maybe there is hope for the Knicks after all, not much but maybe there is some.