By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Italian Basketball Federation officially announced that Danilo Gallinari suffered a fracture on the base of his first right-hand metacarpal tonight during the game against the Dutch national team. His estimated recovery time will take 40 days and he’s essentially ruled out of the EuroBasket that begins on August 31.
Gallinari sustained the injury following a punch he threw on Jito Kok of the Dutch team. The two players were involved in a fight which started when Kok held the Clippers forward back way too aggressively to get a better position for a rebound. Gallinari reacted by hitting his opponent and throwing a full swing at him which was the punch that caused the injury.
Everyone realized that the punch was hard enough that may have caused a damage. Something that was proven to be the case indeed. Gallinari was immediately transferred to the hospital and the examinations revealed the fracture that will cost him his participation in the EuroBasket.
Per the Italian Federation, Diego Flaccadori, who plays in Dolomiti Energia Trento, will take Galo’s place on the roster of the national team.
Update: Danilo Gallinari wrote the following on his Facebook page following the diagnosis. “Fracture on the base of the first metacarpal of my right hand. Unfortunately, I won’t be with the national team anymore. I apologize to my teammates and everyone else”