By MARC J. SPEARS,
Sports Commentary
Did you miss the NBA Draft on Thursday? If so, here's what went down at Madison Square Garden when David Stern announced New York's pick at number six:
And with the sixth pick in the NBA Draft, the New York Knicks select Danilo Gallinari from Italy ...
BOO!
Maybe it's because New Yorkers don't know him. Maybe it's because Knicks fans thought Eric Gordon, Joe Alexander, Brook Lopez, DJ Augustin or Jerryd Bayless were better options. While both are valid reasons to voice displeasure with the pick, the main reason that Knicks fans welcomed the Italian to New York City with jeers during Thursday's draft at Madison Square Garden is because international players aren't the flavor of the month anymore in the NBA. So Knicks fans are worried about getting a bust.
"It's a part of the game, all of the players has got to hear this," said Gallinari, about being booed, during a press conference at the draft. "Not every time you can hear good things. So it's normal here."
Remember when Germany's Dirk Nowitzki first started showing he was worthy of being an NBA All-Star with the Dallas Mavericks? Everyone wanted a European player after that.
The Denver Nuggets tried and failed after drafting Nikoloz Tskitishvili from the Republic of Georgia in 2002. The next year the Detroit Pistons drafted bust Darko Milicic from Serbia and Montenegro over Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade.
I wonder what the Bucks are thinking now after selecting Australian center Andrew Bogut over the likes of Deron Williams and Chris Paul three years ago? Italian forward Andrea Bargnani's struggles since being selected No. 1 by Toronto in 2006 didn't help Gallinari's cause either.
China's former NBA player Wang Zhizhi (R) looks for an opening as Angola's Joaquim Gomes guards during their Stankovic Cup basketball game in Hangzhou on July 19, 2008 in eastern China's Zhejiang province. Angola defeated China 72-71. AFP PHOTO/Frederic J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)
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China's NBA star Yao Ming (R) looks for a pass as Angola's Joaquim Gomes (L) guards during their Stankovic Cup basketball game in Hangzhou on July 19, 2008 in eastern China's Zhejiang province. Angola defeated China 72-71. AFP PHOTO/Frederic J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)
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China's NBA players Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets (R) talks with Yi Jianlian of the New Jersey Nets during their Stankovic Cup baskeball game against Angola in Hangzhou on July 19, 2008 in eastern China's Zhejiang province. Angola defeated China 72-71. AFP PHOTO/Frederic J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)
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China's NBA star Yao Ming checks the scoreboard during their Stankovic Cup basketball tournament game against angola in Hangzhou on July 19, 2008 in eastern China's Zhejiang province. Angola defeated China 72-71. AFP PHOTO/Frederic J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)
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China's NBA player Yi Jianlian (L) tries to block a shot from Angola's Victor Muzadi (R) during the Stankovic Cup basketball tournament in Hangzhou on July 19, 2008 in eastern China's Zhejiang province. Angola defeated China 72-71. AFP PHOTO/Frederic J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)
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China's NBA star Yao Ming (C-#13) blocks a shot from Angola's Joaquim Gomes (L) during the Stankovic Cup basketball tournament in Hangzhou on July 19, 2008 in eastern China's Zhejiang province. Angola defeated China 72-71. AFP PHOTO/Frederic J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)
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China's NBA player Yi Jianlian (2nd R) vies for position with Angola's Victor Muzadi (R-#11) while awaiting the pass from China's Zhu Fangyu (L) during the Stankovic Cup basketball tournament in Hangzhou on July 19, 2008 in eastern China's Zhejiang province. Angola were leading China 32-31 at half-time. AFP PHOTO/Frederic J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)
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China's NBA player Yi Jianlian wipes his face during their Stankovic Cup basketball tournament game against Angola in Hangzhou on July 19, 2008 in eastern China's Zhejiang province. Angola were leading China 32-31 at half-time. AFP PHOTO/Frederic J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)
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China's NBA star Yao Ming (R) makes A move for the basket as Angola's Joaquim Gomes (2nd L) guards during the Stankovic Cup basketball tournament in Hangzhou on July 19, 2008 in eastern China's Zhejiang province. Angola were leading China 32-31 at half-time. AFP PHOTO/Frederic J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)
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Chinese NBA star Yao Ming slam dunks against Angola during the Stankovic Cup basketball tournament in Hangzhou on July 19, 2008 in eastern China's Zhejiang province. Angola were leading China 32-31 at half-time. AFP PHOTO/Frederic J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)
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And Knicks fans will never forget about how their beloved franchise drafted French center Frederick Weis over local boy Ron Artest.
So when asked what makes him different than the other international players who have struggled in the NBA, Gallinari said: "I just don't know. I like to say to journalists and coaches that say this, I don't know. I let you say that."
That didn't really win over the Knicks fans either.
Gallinari is only 19 years old, has an impressive jump shot, is athletic and finishes well at the basket. The 6-foot-8, 210-pounder's father, Vittorio, played professionally in Italy with new Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni. The younger Gallinari averaged 17.5 points and 5.7 rebounds last season for Italy Armani Jeans Milano scoring over 20 points 11 times.
So what does that mean to Knicks fans? Nothing. They've never seen him play. After missing the playoffs the last seven seasons, New Yorkers are ready to win right now. They don't know what this Italian dude can bring. So with very little knowledge about Gallinari other than some highlights against some nobody's, there is reason to be unimpressed.
"We think we got an unusual package in this young man with his size, his shooting ability, his ball-handling ability," said Knicks president Donnie Walsh, to the New York media. "We think he's going to grow and we think he's the kind of guy who can bring people together and make people better."
Moreover, Gallinari was the only international player selected amongst the first 19 picks. France's Alexis Ajinca was the next overseas prospects taken as he was selected 20th overall by Charlotte. After the initial rush toward getting international players at the start of this decade and lots of success with the likes of Nowitzki, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Yao Ming, NBA scouts are all over the globe and getting a much stronger look at prospects now than years earlier. Several NBA executives say that the international crop has weakened and they're uncertain when it will become strong again.
"I'm so excited, I have no words," said Gallinari, about being drafted by the Knicks. "It's a dream for me and I really don't know what to say. I'm so excited and happy to be here."
When the 2008-09 NBA season begins, there will be a lot of heralded rookies making their debuts in Portland center Greg Oden (the No. 1 pick in 2007 who missed last season due to injury), Chicago guard Derrick Rose (this year's top pick), Miami forward Michael Beasley and Memphis guard O.J. Mayo. But due to New York's terrible run in recent years, the fact that he's playing in the world's largest media market, there is immediate pressure for Gallinari to help re-open the doors wide for international players again. Plus, with the recent lack of productivity from international draft picks, the spotlight might be hotter on Gallinari than any other rookie.
Whether real or a good façade, Gallinari displayed a very thick skin when booed by Knicks fans and when asked about it afterward. Hopefully, it was real because the Italian will definitely need it if he doesn't produce quickly for the Knickerbockers.
"I feel normal and comfortable with (the booing)," Gallinari said. "I have got no problem and it's my work to prove to everybody that I am a good player. So that's everything on me."
Marc J. Spears is the NBA writer for the Boston Globe and has been covering the NBA since 1999.
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