Legendary broadcaster Ralph Lawler, who retired on Wednesday night, has been calling games for the Los Angeles Clippers for 40 years. As the voice of Southern California's “other” NBA franchise since it moved to the area in 1978, Lawler has long been privy to watching players and coaches a sizable subset of league followers inevitably ignored.
Who's the most underrated Clipper he's seen during his time with the club? Los Angeles forward Danilo Gallinari, apparently.
“My inclination would be from the present ballclub: Danilo Gallinari,” he told The Athletic's Jovan Buha when asked to name the Clippers' most underrated player ever. “It’s hard to believe watching him play that he is not or has never been an All-Star. There is some sentiment to get him on third team All-NBA this year. If you say LeBron James has missed too many games and the lack of success of the Lakers, that Danilo could get his spot. I just think he’s an extraordinary talent.
“Again, career diminished only by a series of injuries over the years from New York to Denver to Los Angeles,” Lawler continue. “I’ll go with Danilo.”
The Clippers acquired Gallinari in the summer of 2017. The stretch forward played a key role this season helping the team make the playoffs despite the midseason trade of Tobias Harris, at the time Los Angeles' leading scorer.
In 68 games this season for the Clippers, Gallinari averaged 19.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists per contest. Th 30-year-old shot 46.3 percent from the field, 43.3 percent from beyond the arc, and 90.4 percent from the free-throw line, emerging as one of the league's most efficient high-usage players.
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