After two weeks of Summer League play, Dionte Christmas received the news he had been working toward prior to his final game on Sunday.
The Boston Celtics reached an agreement with the free agent guard for a partially guaranteed contract.
It was kind of emotional, Christmas told CSNNE.com in a telephone interview Sunday evening. I didnt want to get too emotional before a game, but words couldnt even explain it. I called my dad and he was just so happy for me. It was a great feeling, a feeling that I havent felt in a long time.
Christmas was the Celtics free agent breakout player of Summer League, averaging 12.2 points per game in Orlando and 14.2 in Las Vegas. He recorded a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double in the Orlando summer league opener and scored 17 points or more in four of his last six games.
The 25-year-old, who previously played in Turkey, Israel, and Greece, had received offers to play overseas. While he considered the deals, his father James reminded him of his ultimate goal.
I was pretty close, I was pretty close, he said of signing overseas. But I talked to my dad two nights ago and I was telling him the offers I got overseas and asked basically if it was worth it. My dad was like, Keep chasing your dream. Dont give up. Keep going for your dream. Were not a poor family. Me and your mom are cool and youre cool. Its not about the money all the time. Just keep chasing your dream.
That was basically all I needed to hear. That kind of put me over the top, whether I got something from Boston or if somebody was going to take a leap on me, Im going to go with them. I came this far, I didnt want to give up.
Boston Celtics
Christmas says he played at his max level over the last two weeks and believes his intensity is a match for the Celtics system. At 6-6, he has increased his weight to 215 pounds, giving him the versatility to play the point guard, shooting guard, and small forward positions. The player who went undrafted out of Temple University in 2009 appreciates the stability he now has heading into the season.
I basically showed them everything, he said. Most of all, I think I have a Boston Celtics style of play. Im not talking about scoring, Im talking about Im very energetic, Im vocal, I like to get in peoples space and play defense. I just like competition. I love to get under the opposing teams skin. I have that Celtics type of play and I think they saw that. They saw that I was hungry and they saw that I wanted it. By me showing I could do everything like pass and rebound, they already knew I could score, but seeing me do everything, I think that really put it over the top. That right there showed the growth in my game by going overseas.
Like the other newcomers to the team, he looks forward to meeting the Celtics veterans. He was also impressed by Rajon Rondos coaching skills and willingness to share his knowledge when the point guard stopped by the Las Vegas Summer League.
"Hes just sitting there coaching me and telling me things to do and where to put guys on the floor and how to tell guys where to go," Christmas said. "For him to come and show support and take the time to sit down with me and the guys, it was great."
Christmas will head from Las Vegas to Boston to finalize the deal. Then it is time to begin preparing for the opportunity he has been chasing for years.
Im just not going to stop here, he said. This is definitely just the beginning. The door is halfway open. Ive just got to kick it all the way open.