By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
In a candid reflection, Danilo Gallinari leveled sharp criticism at the NBA’s financial penalty against Kawhi Leonard.
Speaking on the Italian podcast A Cresta Alta, the 38-year-old former forward argued that the $700,000 fine following a massive salary cap circumvention investigation was a mere fraction of the true economic and personal toll inflicted on the rest of the roster. He insisted that ‘out of those 50 million, where he only has to pay 700,000, he deserves to pay the whole 50 million he took’. The veteran further suggested that instead of traditional league penalties, the superstar ‘needs to give it to charity’ to ensure the money serves a greater purpose. “He should pay every last cent,” stressed Gallinari.
Instead of enjoying long-term stability in a premier market, the roster shakeup and unexpected trade from the Clippers in 2019 launched a journeyman phase for the Italian player, sending him to the Oklahoma City Thunder and initiating a cycle of bouncing between multiple franchises later in his career. Meanwhile, Leonard inked a controversial three-year contract with his hometown team, with the Clippers acquiring Paul George.
“He absolutely has to pay it, because in the end, I was the one who paid the price, me and Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander]. But the truth is, we ended up taking wonderful paths,” continued the veteran of 828 NBA games.
“Still, my NBA journey didn’t depend on a GM or an owner, like it did with the Knicks or whatever, but specifically on a player. A player who decided the team wasn’t working, who wanted something else,” added Gallinari. “Because of his words, a whole series of events unfolded that, as you can see, weren’t exactly standard. So yeah, what I’m saying is he needs to pay the full 50 million, not just 700,000.”
The crux of his grievance centers on how superstar-driven demands strip control away from front offices, directly altering the trajectories of other careers.
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