Denver Nuggets: The Power of Nicknames and the Current Top 5

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Feb 10, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari (8) dribbles the ball against the Detroit Pistons during the first quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

#3 “Gallo/The Rooster” (Danilo Gallinari)

Danilo Gallinari is probably the best player on the Nuggets today. Fans commonly use the phonetically shortened name “Gallo” to refer to the player, perhaps without realizing the literal significance of the name.

Feb 23, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari (8) dribbles the ball in the first quarter against the Sacramento Kings at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

“Gallo” is Italian for “rooster”, and Gallinari’s true nickname is “Il Gallo” which translates to “The Rooster”. Gallo’s European fan-base knows this information undoubtedly, but adopted fans from America may be unaware, as the convenience of saving syllables has proven to be enough for fans to adopt the nickname with regularity.

That is not to say that “The Rooster” is unappreciated; if you watch a Denver Nuggets game on TV, you are likely to hear the announcers refer to him as such. Plus, Gallinari sported a mo-hawk last season, and may continue the look, as it seems to be an embraced personification of his nickname.

“Gallo” has recovered from injury and played some international basketball in this off-season (for Italy, in Olympic qualifiers) and, after his best season yet, Nuggets fans wait impatiently to once again see “The Rooster” on the loose.

For now, the organization can count on his reliable scoring to represent a big chunk of the teams offense. The Nuggets are likely to keep “Gallo” on their squad for a few more years, until he has acquired veteran status. At that point, “The Rooster” may open up as an attractive trade option.

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