No Back Surgery, But Gallinari’s Season Might Be Over

by Marcel Mutoni

What do you want to hear first, the good news or the bad news?

Let’s start with the good: Danilo Gallinari, the Knicks’ first round pick, may not require surgery for his troublesome back. The bad news: He may also not see the basketball court again this season.

After meeting with a back specialist, the 20-year old’s rookie season might end after only two games, according to Newsday:

“The specialist said the right thing is recommending rest, not surgery,” the source told Newsday.

With the Knicks now prepared to take the recovery process cautiously, the source said it could be at least a month of rest – likely more – before Gallinari is cleared to begin running again. After that, he essentially would be starting over with his conditioning before he could even consider stepping onto the court. It could mean that Gallinari won’t be ready to play until very late in the season, if at all.

Depending on who you want to believe in the NY media, the problem might also reside inside Gallinari’s head. The kid, some reportedly fear, might not be able to handle a lot of pain. Whatever the case, things aren’t looking too cheery for Gallinari and his employer.

Addtional MRIs are planned.