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Just got some good work in wit the OG @jasonterry31 ...#thegrindneverstops
— Dionte Christmas (@Dchristmas22) September 5, 2012
Don't like to brag but I did dunk on some1 today that's about 6-7inches taller!!!!
— Courtney Lee (@CourtneyLee2211) September 5, 2012
Back in Boston...ready to get back to work. #Banner18 #Celtics
— Chris Wilcox (@ChrisWilcox44) September 5, 2012
It's starting, everybody. We're about a month out from training camp and guys are getting back to work for #18. Jessica Camerato of CSNNE.com has a great interview with Dionte Christmas, one of the three newest Celtics without a guaranteed contract (along with Kris Joseph and Jamar Smith). Christmas talks about his long journey to make it in the NBA and how Jason Terry has mentored him over the last couple of weeks about how much work goes into not just getting the opportunity, but getting the most out of his shot and staying in the league:
"He likes to get in and out, but he goes real hard for an hour," said Christmas. "It's something I'm not used to. I'm used to doing my thing, take a break, getting back at it. He goes straight through.
"He's a great shooter and I kind of thought I was a great shooter, but he is a great shooter. We have drills where we compete and I can't let him get too far ahead of me because he can go off making like 30 straight shots. It's just tough, it's real competitive. He's so focused and seeing him like that at [age] 34, 35, it's real humbling.
"This guy's coming in at nighttime when nobody's in the gym. [Tuesday] it was just like me, him, and the janitor in the gym just getting it in for a good hour, working hard. He does it when nobody's looking. That's the stuff that gives me motivation because I like to get work in during the day and rest at night, but I see what it takes to be successful in the league. He's a champion, he has been very successful over his career, so watching him and talking to him, I know what it takes."
It's great to see the newest Celtic veteran take a rookie under his wing. Terry played his first five seasons in Atlanta and then eight with the Mavericks, but it sounds like he's always been a Celtic. He's joining a team that has a long standing tradition of vets mentoring the younger players and it's great to see that even in early September, we're seeing Ubuntu in full effect. It won't be long until we see Garnett barking at Sullinger and Melo on defense or Dooling reprising his Reverend role in the locker room.