Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari has found an outlet to keep his head – and his voice – in the game.
While continuing his rehabilitation program to strengthen his left knee, Gallinari is moonlighting as an analyst on the Altitude Radio Network with Nuggets play-by-play announcer Jason Kosmicki.
Gallinari worked his first broadcast Nov. 11 when the Nuggets played the Utah Jazz and returned to the booth again a week later for Denver’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“I don’t like to do every game, but only sometimes,” he said. “People don’t want to listen to my voice every time.”
Kosmicki, now in his sixth year as Denver’s play-by-play man, believes otherwise.
“The dude is smart, charming and knows the game of basketball,” he said. “I thought he was quite insightful. If I were a listener I would have enjoyed it.”
Before Gallinari’s first broadcast, Kosmicki provided some basic pointers as the Nuggets rode the bus from the team hotel to EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City.
He reminded Gallinari that he could provide a unique perspective by giving scouting reports on opposing players; analyzing how a play should be run or defended; and sharing what coach Brian Shaw would be emphasizing during timeouts.
“Little did I know, he didn’t need that much coaching,” Kosmicki said. “He pretty much had a feel for it 8 minutes into the game.”
Gallinari said he worked radio broadcasts for Italian pro league games as a teenager, but his new gig is more challenging because he is not speaking in his native tongue.
“Trying to speak correct English is not easy,” he said. “Maybe the fact I don’t speak perfect English is better. I don’t know. You have to ask the listeners if it’s going well or not.”
Considering Gallinari remains one of the most popular players on the team, it’s hard to imagine many negative reviews from Nuggets Nation.
The listeners, however, surely will welcome the day when Kosmicki is flying solo as he describes Gallinari’s return to the court.