Boston forward Danilo Culinary After suffering a torn ACL in his left knee while playing for the Italian national team, the Celtics announced Friday, an injury that could cause him to miss the entire 2022-23 NBA season.
Gallinari previously tore the same ACL in April 2013 and missed the entire 2013-14 season after undergoing a pair of surgeries. The typical recovery time for an ACL tear is six to 12 months, and a source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that Gallinari is determined to return at some point late in the 2022-23 season.
“This has been a tough week for me as I learn the extent of my injury,” Gallinari wrote in a social media post. “This game means everything to me and it hurts not being able to be on the court with my Celtic teammates. I plan to give everything I can to the Celtic organization and my teammates as we look for the title.”
Gallinari, 34, was injured Saturday during a FIBA World Cup qualifier against Georgia. He clutched his left knee after a bounce pass in the lane before going to the sideline, holding the back of the knee as coaches rushed to his aid. Gallinari then went to the locker room with the help of a staff member and a team member.
The Italian team announced that Gallinari had suffered a ruptured meniscus.
Gallinari signed a two-year, $13.2 million contract with the Celtics last month as a free agent — including a player option for a second season. The sharpshooting forward averaged 11.7 points and shot 38.1% from 3-point range in 66 games for the Hawks last season — along with Malcolm Broughton, acquired by Boston in a trade with the Indiana Pacers in July — to bolster the Celtics’ depth and give them some extra offensive punch after the Eastern Conference champions saw them lose their NBA Finals to the Golden State Warriors. Gallinari has never played in the Finals in his 13 NBA seasons.
Long regarded as one of the NBA’s elite-shooting big men, Gallinari is a 38.2% 3-point shooter, and his 1,426 career 3-pointers rank 23rd among active players — and third — behind all. Kevin Durant And Kevin Love — on players 6-foot-10 or taller.
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Celtics could apply for a designated player exception to replace Gallinari. The Celtics will pay $3.2 million to sign, trade or claim a player to an expiring contract up to that amount.
Including Al HorfordAlmost a fully guaranteed contract, Boston has 11 guaranteed contracts on its roster, and several players with non-guaranteed or partially guaranteed contracts who are expected to fight for roster spots in training camp.
