The life of a professional athlete is seldom calm: even when you swap the basketball court for sandy beaches, fate can spring an unexpected twist. That is exactly what happened to former NBA star Danilo Gallinari, whose pregnant wife miraculously survived a shark attack in Puerto Rico.
The Italian Sharpshooter Remembered in New York
Gallinari, a stretch forward and noted shooter, belongs to the group of players you remember only when you skim through old rosters. Over 15 seasons he played for eight NBA teams: from the New York Knicks, where he was once projected as a franchise cornerstone, to Denver, where he averaged 19.5 points per game during the not-so-bright 2015/16 season. Career averages of 15 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2 assists are solid, if not superstar, numbers. His trajectory was disrupted by a severe knee injury sustained with the Italian national team, preventing him from joining Boston’s championship run. In the summer of 2025 Gallinari signed with Vaqueros de Bayamón of the Puerto Rican league.
A Minute of Terror in Shallow Water
While Danilo was preparing for the finals, his wife—sports journalist Eleonora Boy—was enjoying the warm ocean with their two children. A single splash changed everything: in shallow water a shark clamped onto her thigh. “I touched my leg and felt something soft, orange-red,” Boy recalls. “It was my own torn skin.” Eleonora’s scream, her husband’s instant reaction, and the dash to shore lasted only seconds, yet could have cost both her and the unborn baby their lives.
Prompt Treatment and Doctors' Prognosis
An ambulance rushed the victim to the nearest hospital in Carolina. Surgeons treated the deep laceration and assured that neither mother nor baby was in danger. According to police captain Ruben Moyeno, the wound is entirely consistent with the bite of a large shark, though the exact species has yet to be identified.
Vacation Safety Under Scrutiny
The Department of Natural Resources announced that it does not plan to close the beach: shark attacks in this area are extremely rare. Even so, lifeguards have increased patrols, and tourists are urged not to swim beyond the buoy line and to keep visual contact with one another.
The Finals, Humor, and Family Support
Even in the hospital room Boy was calming her husband: “Go play—you’ve got a final.” Known for her self-irony, the Italian journalist even joked about “suing” the sea predator. Gallinari has yet to comment publicly, but according to his wife he has not left her side. Basketball teaches you to fight until the final buzzer—and Danilo now applies that principle not only on the court but also in his family life.
