Danilo Gallinari

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Coach Unseld and Danilo Gallinari spoke to the media following practice on Monday afternoon.

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Media Availability: Wes Unseld Jr. and Danilo Gallinari | 12/04/23

Coach Unseld, Kyle Kuzma, and Danilo Gallinari spoke to the media following Monday night's win against the Pistons in Detroit.

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Media Availability: Wes Unseld Jr., Kyle Kuzma, and Danilo Gallinari | 11/27/23

Luke Askew

Thanks to a nice night from Kyle Kuzma and a monster performance from the bench unit, the Washington Wizards closed their four-game road trip with one of their most complete performances of the young season. They downed the Hornets in Charlotte by a final score of 132-116.

After three consecutive tough road games, the Wizards needed a win on Wednesday night, and they got just that. The first quarter was tightly contested, but it wasn't an immediate shootout like some expected. Led by Daniel Gafford and Deni Avdija, Washington's defense set the tone early.

Gafford had a tough assignment in Charlotte going head-to-head with young big man Mark Willliams, but he was ready for the matchup. Gafford had two huge blocks in the first six minutes of the game (his fifth-straight game with at least two blocks -- the longest such streak of his career), the latter of which led to a wide-open Kuzma three in transition. It was the definition of turning defense into offense.

The defensive intensity continued into the second quarter helping the Wizards to only give up 46 points in the first half. A welcomed sight.

"The big key also was the transition," said Wizards head coach Wes Unseld Jr. "We took care of that area, limited the fastbreak points, forced them to play more of a halfcourt game, grind it out for points. And they made some tough plays, but that second-quarter defense was big for us. Another high-deflection night. I thought guys really just exerted the energy, played with some purpose, and I thought in general the communication was where it should be."

In the second quarter, Danilo Gallinari made his mark on the game. He knocked down two threes within the first 90 seconds and never looked back. He was dialed in and had all of his patented old-man moves working. Whether it was using shoulder fakes in the post to get around quicker guys, hitting fadeaways from the mid-range, utilizing fancy footwork to get to the cup, or splashing spot-up threes, Gallinari had it working. He scored 13 points in the second quarter, giving the Wizards a crucial offensive boost to match their defensive pressure.

Gallinari helped the Wizards take a 19-point lead heading into the halftime break. While he slowed down a bit over the course of the third and fourth quarters, his presence was still felt. He finished the game with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field and 4-of-7 shooting from deep. But, he wasn't the only bench player who brought their A-game.

The Wizards' second unit was flat-out incredible on Wednesday night. Gallinari got the party started with his big second quarter but the rest followed suit. Corey Kispert scored 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Bilal Coulibaly knocked down two big threes. And the backcourt duo of Delon Wright and Landry Shamet put the nails in Charlotte's coffin.

Wright dropped 18 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field, 2-of-3 shooting from deep, and 8-of-8 shooting from the charity stripe to go along with three assists, three rebounds, four steals, and countless disrupted plays on defense.

Shamet was spectacular in his own right, scoring 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field in just 17 minutes. He also threw down this vicious dunk.

"The bench was unbelievable," said Unseld Jr. "They've shown spurts for us so far in this young season, and to see it in significant stretches, it's comforting to know you've got guys who can come in and impact the game [both] offensively [and] defensively, stem the tide, hold off runs. That shows a lot of character for guys who hadn't to this point gotten a lot of minutes. But they were ready when their number was called and responded well."

The Wizards got a whopping 72 points out of their bench on Wednesday night.

Of course, none of the aforementioned successes of the Wizards would've had the same impact if Kuzma didn't have the star performance he did. Kuzma scored 12 of Washington's first 17 points and it was clear right away that Wizards fans were in for a big night. He had everything going. The jumper, the dribble moves, the finishing around the cup, the cutting off the ball -- everything. He finished the game with a season-high 33 points on 13-of-24 shooting from the field to go along with nine rebounds, four assists, and only two turnovers. Plus, it only took him 31 minutes of action to do it.

Next up, the Wizards will return home for their second In-Season Tournament game. This time, it's a Friday night battle, and it's the Hornets' turn to come to the DMV.

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Recap: Wizards beat Hornets 132-116 behind Kuzma's big outing

Highlights from Danilo Gallinari’s 18 points (4 rebounds) in the Wizards’ 132-116 victory over the Hornets on Wednesday night.

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Highlights: Danilo Gallinari puts up 18 vs. Hornets | 11/08/23

Wes Unseld Jr., Tyus Jones, Kyle Kuzma, and Danilo Gallinari spoke to the media following the season-opener against the Pacers.

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Media Availability: Wes Unseld Jr., Tyus Jones, Kyle Kuzma, and Danilo Gallinari | 10/25/23

With the Washington Wizards' season-opener right around the corner, it's time to preview the final position grouping: The Bigs. We've already covered the guards and the wings, so now let's look at the big men in the middle.

Daniel Gafford will have a new role this season. After spending most of last year either coming off the bench or playing alongside Kristaps Porzingis in the frontcourt, Gafford will likely be the lone true big man in Washington's starting five, and he's ready for the challenge.

"With most of the guys that came in, everybody was excited to have a guy like me on the floor," said a smiling Gafford on Wizards media day. "Just telling me, 'Oh yeah, lobs are gonna be there. We're gonna send the defense to you so you can block all the shots.' You know, the usual. But I'm really excited. I can't wait for the season."

Since arriving in Washington in March of 2021, Gafford's numbers have been steady, but his play has improved. He looks more confident around the rim. He has a better understanding of the defensive scheme. And he's developed into a vocal leader. Now, it's time for all the work to pay dividends.

Anthony Gill has developed a reputation in the Wizards' locker room as one of the league's most supportive and genuine dudes. Up and down the roster, players rave about the quality of the teammate and person that is Anthony Gill. But what gets lost sometimes is how he can impact the game on any given night.

There will be nights when Gill doesn't play, and he knows that. But there won't be any nights where Gill isn't ready to play. Last year, he played in 59 games and averaged just under 11 minutes per contest, but he brought a steadying presence to the court as soon as he checked in.

Whether it's guarding the opponent's big man down low, stretching out to the perimeter, or simply keeping the ball moving on offense, Gill has the ability to provide a spark on both ends of the court.

Despite being an established veteran in the NBA, this will be Mike Muscala's first season with the Wizards, and he already made a loud introduction to Wizards fans.

In just his second preseason game of the year, Muscala checked into the game at Madison Square Garden on October 18 and immediately activated his flamethrower. He made his first five triples and was a primary catalyst in the Wizards outpacing the Knicks to the tune of 131-106. He finished that game with 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field in 25 minutes of playing time.

While Muscala won't check into every game and hit five consecutive threes, that performance was an example of the danger Muscala brings to the court. As soon as he subs in, the defense has to be ready to guard him.

Danilo Gallinari joined the Wizards from the Celtics via the same trade that sent Muscala to D.C. And now, Gallinari is the oldest player on the team heading into the 2023-24 season. That means leadership, both on and off the court, will be a major focal point for the 14-year vet. If you're wondering how much the veteran leadership of Galinari means to the team, just ask Gafford.

"When we first got back, I was working out and stuff, just coming back and forth, and [Galinari] came up to me and he was just giving me tips and pointers on just making plays out of the pocket," said Gafford. "Just little gestures like that is what shows how much certain guys on the team really just care about the game."

The newest addition to the Wizards roster is John Butler Jr., signed to Washington's final two-way deal on October 23.

Butler Jr. has incredible length at seven feet tall and has all of the tools you look for in the modern big man. He's athletic. He can shoot it from deep (39.3% on nearly three attempts per game in college). And he can block shots. Butler Jr. remains a relatively unknown prospect to the general NBA fan after going undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft, but this season, he'll have an opportunity to take strides forward with the Wizards and their G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go.

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Washington Wizards Player Previews: Breaking Down the Bigs

Scrappy defense and up-tempo offense set the tone in Tuesday night's preseason opener for the Washington Wizards. They defeated the Cairns Taipans of the National Basketball League (Australia) by a final score of 145-82 in Washington, D.C.

Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole gave the Wizards' offense an instant boost. They scored 16 of the team's first 21 points and helped give them a lead they'd never look back from.

Kuzma led the way for Washington, finishing with 22 points on efficient 7-of-10 shooting from the field, 3-of-5 shooting from three-point territory and 5-of-5 shooting from the charity stripe. He also added four rebounds and two assists in his 20 minutes of action.

Poole also notched 20 minutes of playing time and scored 18 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the field and 4-of-8 shooting from deep.

Two of the Wizards' newest additions made an immediate impact on the Capital One Arena floor. Tyus Jones was a true floor general, bringing the ball up the court, distributing it to shooters, and not turning it over. Danilo Gallinari was an efficient outlet in the halfcourt, always knowing where to be and when to be there.

"Being a vet, being able to space the floor, being able to play the right way, being able to have the experience that he has to see different actions, to see different types of basketball, it'll be huge for us," said Jordan Poole. "Just being able to have him share the things that he has and also come out there, be aggressive, and make shots. And he's an extremely good free-throw shooter."

Gallinari finished the game with 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field and 3-of-4 shooting from deep to go along with four rebounds and three assists in just 15 minutes of action.

As for Jones, he did all the things that have given him a reputation of being one of the most steady, traditional-style point guards in the league. He finished the game with 11 points and five assists while not turning the ball over once.

"Typical Ty," said Wizards head coach Wes Unseld Jr. "[He] doesn't turn the ball over. He keeps us organized. There's a level of composure with him that's comforting for all the guys on the floor. He does a great job of reading me, and he's smart enough to know what we need, so I can leave him alone."

Wizards fans were excited to see what Bilal Coulibaly, the seventh overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, could do in his first non-Summer League Wizards game. And the rookie didn't disappoint. He slid into the starting lineup and looked like a natural fit alongside his teammates. He only scored five points (2-of-4 shooting from the field), but his defensive prowess is what stood out the most.

Whether it was on or off the ball, Coulibaly was a pest. He used his length, athleticism, and hoops IQ to disrupt the Taipans' offensive flow.

To go along with his five points, Coulibaly had six rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block.

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Recap: Wizards beat Taipans 145-82 in preseason opener

Danilo Gallinari spoke to the media during the Washington Wizards 2023 Media Day on October 2nd at Capital One Arena.