Enthusiasm Mutual for Gallinari, Knicks <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Just over 12 hours after President, Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh chose him with the sixth pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, Danilo Gallinari was officially welcomed into the New York Knicks family during a press conference at the Madison Square Garden Training Center. A calm, humble young man who is also clearly confident in his abilities, Gallinari spoke seriously about his dedication to becoming an elite NBA player. "My only thought is that I've got to work and work and work every day, and improve my game both defensively and offensively," said the native of Sant'Angelo Lodigiano, Italy. "My thought is to work and learn, because I am coming to a new world. … I'm going to try to help the team as much as I can and as early as I can." The 6-foot-9, 225-pound forward averaged a team-high 17.5 points and 5.7 rebounds last season for Armani Jeans Milano of the Italian A-1 League. He also tallied 14.9 points and 4.2 rebounds in 2008 Euroleague play and has won the prestigious Euroleague Rising Star award for the 2007-08 season. After a year playing with the popular Italian League team in Milan -- where Walsh says there are "billboards as big as Boeing jets with this kid on it with Armani Jeans" -- Gallinari's top choice was to come to New York. "I just knew a few seconds before (they called my name), and I didn't have any idea," he said. "I didn't feel my legs when I got on the stage to shake hands. It was incredible …I like the people who are here, so it was a good feeling to be here."</div> NY Knicks
