MILAN, Italy – Here in the city of espresso and gelato, of colossal-sized gothic churches and colossal-sized high-heels, is where it all started for Danilo Gallinari – and Mike D’Antoni.

D’Antoni learned the merits of the speedball offense from his team in Milan, the world’s fashion capital where he played point guard nine seasons, then coached. D’Antoni was – by all accounts – a whirling dervish.

Gallinari was born 25 minutes from the famed Piazza del Duomo, the sprawling walkway where hundreds of clothing stores, cafes, wine bars and one of the largest church’s in the world, II Duomo & Baptistery, stand sentry. If Grand Central Station were a cathedral, it would be the II Duomo.

Soccer still rules in this city – I see soccer shops all around. Inter Milan plays a huge Champions match tonight vs. a German team. But some people are referring to Sunday’s sold-out match between the Knicks and Armani Jeans Milano as the biggest basketball match ever played in this city.

D’Antoni still is a bigger name than Gallinari in this town and he’ll have a dinner in his honor Friday night.

The Knicks arrive sometime very late tonight and practice here Thursday. They haven’t been in too many “event” games during nine straight losing seasons. But they play a biggie Sunday – even if only Italy knows it.