Danilo Gallinari is training hard, looking to make a big statement in his sophomore campaign. NBAE/Getty Images

Las Vegas, NV - For Danilo Gallinari, the road back begins here, on the sidelines of Valley High School, putting his sweet-stroke jumper on display once again while the Knicks Summer League squad goes through its full-court paces just a few feet away.

The distance is symbolic. Just three months removed from back surgery, Gallinari has not been cleared to participate in contact drills, so he won’t see any Summer League game action. But he’ll still be a major presence throughout the week, working on his shot, regaining his stamina and strengthening his back under the watchful eyes of Assistant Coach, Player Development Greg Brittenham and Performance Specialist Dave Hancock.

The sixth overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, Gallinari’s rookie season was dotted with a series of impressive outings but ultimately limited to just 28 games – and 6.1 points per game -- due to back pain. He was sidelined for most of the season’s first half, and didn’t play after March 15.

“It was a little bit frustrating because when you play with pain, play just 28 games in an 82-game season, it’s not easy mentally or physically,” says the Knicks’ 6-foot-10 Italian import, who turns 21 next month. “But I think it was a positive experience and a real nice experience for my first year. I learned a lot of things, so I’m ready to go for my second season.”

After consulting with doctors both in the U.S. and in Italy, Gallinari underwent successful back surgery on April 7. The laminotomy, performed by Dr. Patrick O’Leary, was a surgical procedure that shaved the boney plate surrounding a nerve root.

Now comes the latest step in his return.

“I’m working on conditioning,” says Danilo. “I’m working on strengthening my back for sure, and I’m working on lifting some weights with our strength coaches.”

Although Gallinari’s rookie season was an abbreviated one, New Yorkers saw enough of both his game and his outgoing personality to quickly adopt him as one of their own. The feeling turned out to be mutual.

“I’ve been through a lot of arenas and I think that Madison Square Garden and the New York fans, especially if we get back into the Playoffs, they are the best,” he says. “There are no doubts about that. So I can’t wait to get into the Playoffs to see that.

“Of course I saw all the most important things that a normal tourist can see. I had a chance to meet a lot of people, especially in the Italian community, which is huge. . .I went to the San Gennaro Festival and I went to Little Italy a lot of times. I think it’s fun. It’s not a place where I used to hang out; I used to hang out more in Manhattan, more in the city. But I think it’s nice.”

So was getting a taste of Mike D’Antoni’s wide-open offense, if only for part of a season.

“I think it’s a real good system for everybody, because it’s a system that makes everybody show what their skills are,” says Gallinari. “You have a lot of freedom and you can run. There’s a lot of open space and transitions, so I think it’s a real nice way to play and it’s a fun thing to watch, too.”

One interested spectator at Summer League is Danilo’s father, Vittorio, who played pro ball in Italy and was a teammate and roommate of D’Antoni’s in Milan. Despite his background as a player, the elder Gallinari has mentored his son on matters much bigger than basketball.

“My dad came two days ago,” says Danilo. “He’s going to be here until the 19th when I’ll be back in New York. . .It’s nice. We didn’t see each other for some months. It’s nice to have him here and especially to spend time with him and talk to him about a lot of things.

“You know what? Growing up we didn’t talk a lot about basketball. We always talked about the other things that happen in life and happen during the day, but not a lot about basketball. So we always try not to talk about basketball but about other things. . .basketball just sometimes.”

Playing, not watching, is what Gallinari is all about. That will have to wait a bit, and he knows that during the Knicks’ week in Vegas, he’ll have to be content with being a spectator. That doesn’t mean he’ll enjoy it.

“Yeah, I would like to play for sure,” he says with a smile. “But I’ve learned in my years in basketball that with some injuries, especially this year, you have to take your time and not be in a rush, and just respect the progress and respect the time spent on my back.”

NOTES: After three days’ worth of practice at Valley High, the Knicks’ squad opens its five-game schedule in the 2009 NBA Summer League presented by EA Sports on Tuesday afternoon against the Memphis Grizzlies at Cox Pavilion (6:00 p.m. New York time). . .MSG Network will televise all five Summer League contests, with Mike Breen, Walt Frazier and Tina Cervasio on hand for Tuesday’s opener, which will mark the probable pro debuts of Draft Night acquisitions Jordan Hill of Arizona and Toney Douglas of Florida State. . .Assistant coach Phil Weber will coach the Summer League team for the second straight year. . .Veteran center Eddy Curry, who was limited by knee injury to just three games in 2008-09, has been working out with the Summer League squad in addition to Gallinari. . .Patrick Ewing Jr., who had a training camp stint with the Knicks last season, will be sidelined for this year’s Summer League due to a knee injury.