Could Danilo Gallinari Played This Season?

Apr 4, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari (8) during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

While it has already been established that Danil Gallinari is out for the rest of the season, there were recently reports that he could have played this season. Really, it was expected that he would, and it was surprising that he Nuggets decided to shut him down. This is what the big man had to say.

"The knee wasn’t feeling as good as the right one,” Gallinari said. “And when you’re going through the rehab you don’t know if it’s something that is mental or if it’s that is going to get better playing. You don’t know that. And the fact that the MRI that we did wasn’t good, it was the signal that the knee, the fact that I wasn’t feeling as good as the right one, it was just confirmed by the MRI. I could have played, maybe. But it wasn’t good for my long-term career because … the structure of the knee wasn’t there.”"

It appears that he could have played, but it certainrlly would have been a risk. The Nuggets are not in a playoff spot now, but maybe they are giving up on this season. Hopefully, Gallinari will heal up quickly and return next season at full strength.