Savage callout: Kawhi Leonard blamed for $50M fallout and blockbuster trade drama by former teammate
Gallinari hasn't forgotten that "Kawhi Leonard changed the course of my career; he put me in a difficult situation by sending me away from Los Angeles. Shai and I paid the price"
D anilo Gallinari , an Italian player with fifteen years of NBA experience, was very harsh on Kawhi Leonard following the resolution of the Los Angeles Clippers scandal and settled an old score with the new Toronto Raptors player.
"Those damn 50 million, of which he only has to pay 700,000... in my opinion, he should pay it all" , "Il Gallo" said on his podcast "A Crest Alta" after the NBA sanction against the Clippers for circumventing the salary cap rules by facilitating business deals between Leonard and companies linked to the California franchise.
Kawhi Leonard changed the trajectory of my career; he put me in a difficult situation by sending me far from Los Angeles
The Clippers must pay a $30 million fine , lose five first-round Draft picks, and their owner Steve Ballmer has been suspended for one year.
Kawhi Leonard shouldn't give that money to me, but rather donate it to charity. However, he has to pay the full amount without fail.
For his part, Kawhi Leonard must pay a $700,000 fine .
Why did Kawhi Leonard change Gallinari's career and cause his departure from the Clippers?
Danilo Gallinari has not forgotten that in 2019 he left the Clippers after the signing of Kawhi Leonard, who had just won the NBA with Toronto and asked the Los Angeles team to build a squad capable of contending for the championship immediately.
The Clippers acquired Paul George from the Thunder in exchange for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander , five first-round Draft picks, and Gallinari , who had just completed his best season in the NBA with an average of 19.8 points.
My NBA career was not shaped by a general manager or an owner, but by a player (Leonard)
"Kawhi Leonard changed the trajectory of my career; he put me in a difficult situation by sending me far away from Los Angeles. In the end, Shai and I were the ones who paid the price," the Italian recalls.
Danilo Gallinari wanted to emphasize that he does not hold a grudge against Kawhi Leonard: "Actually, we both ended up traveling wonderful paths, because that year in Oklahoma City was incredible."
"My NBA career wasn’t shaped by a general manager or an owner—as had happened with the Knicks—but by a player who decided the team wasn’t good enough and wanted something else," he recalled.
'Danilo Gallinari noted that "Kawhi Leonard shouldn't give that money to me, but rather donate it to charity. However, he has to pay the full amount without fail".'
