Reaching Out To Christmas
The 76ers have invited Temple's Dionte Christmas to join the summer league team they will be sharing with the New Jersey Nets.
Reaching Out To Christmas
Ed Stefanski, ever mindful of the value he places on his local ties, reached out late Thursday night to Temple's Dionte Christmas, inviting him to join the Orlando summer league team the 76ers will be sharing with the New Jersey Nets.
Christmas, who had been projected as a second-round selection during Thursday night's NBA draft, went unclaimed. He is likely to have multiple summer league and European offers. The Sixers leave July 2 for Orlando; Stefanski is awaiting a decision whether Christmas will join first-round draft choice Jrue Holiday and second-year big man Marreese Speights on the summer roster.
''He's a great kid, he's local,'' said Stefanski, the Sixers' president/general manager. ''Now, he has to prove it all over again.''
The 6-5 Christmas is the first player in Atlantic 10 history to lead the conference in scoring in three successive seasons; he finished his career with 2,043 points, the fourth Owl to surpass 2,000. He set school records for career three-pointers with 319 and for one season, with 107 as a senior.
If there was anything that kept him from being drafted, it might be his reputation as a volume shooter as opposed to a guy who could come off an NBA bench and provide instant offense. On the other hand, he is known for having a quick release and an ability to catch and shoot off screens.
Hope he attends.— Israel is my home
Comment removed.- I definitely hope he accepts and is signed. He is a wonderful player who could help the Sixers. Donte, welcome aboard!— Horlet
- Comment removed.
- They already have a Holiday, so why not add Christmas???— Philly Ray
- Hope it makes it with 76ers. Either way he'll be playing somewhere in the world making a good living....— Cant Climb
- Hell he's better than Willie Green. Sign him.— Grill
- There is a spot since Ivey, Rush, maybe Miller are all gone. Give him a shot.— LCVET
- Can't be any worse than Willie Green.— disulfide
- volume shooter? we dont need another one of those.— maximus
- Everyone please refrain from the stupid holiday christmas comments.— cusoraider
- i don't think he's athletic enough for the NBA but he definitely deserves a shot.— AHash
- He was a volume shooter because there really wasn't anyone else that could nail the shot like him.— disulfide
- I was hoping we could pick up baby new year as well! PS Phil Jasner, you still have the best fro in Philly my friend!— duuuuude
- How about a Christmas Holiday comment? I agree that the Willie Green experiment needs to be over.— amblereagles
Bob Cooney has been at the Daily News for more than 20 years, working in the sports department for the past 15. This is his third season on the Sixers beat. He has covered just about everything, but mostly college basketball, where he was the La Salle beat writer for six seasons. E-mail Bob at cooneyb@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter.
