Dionte Christmas
Encyclopedia
Dionte Christmas is an American
basketball
player. Christmas is listed as 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) and 205 lb (93 kg).
After completing his career at Samuel Fels, Christmas prepped for a year at Philadelphia's Lutheran Christian Academy. He averaged 18 points per game on a team that went 35-3 and ultimately placed nine players on division I basketball rosters.
team that went 17-15 and featured future NBA player Mardy Collins
. The team went to the NIT
, giving Christmas his first taste of post-season play.
Christmas broke out his sophomore year (2006–07), leading Temple and the Atlantic 10 in scoring at 20 points per game. He was named second team All-Conference and the league's Most Improved Player. He also garnered his first Philadelphia Big 5
recognition as he was named first team All Big 5. However, the year was disappointing from a team standpoint as Temple went 12-18 and missed the post-season.
Christmas picked up where he left off in his junior season (2007–08), again leading the Atlantic 10 in scoring at 19.7 ppg. In doing so, he became only the third player in the history of the conference to lead the league in scoring in consecutive seasons. At the end of the year, Christmas was named first team all-conference and Big 5. In the 2008 Atlantic 10 tournament
, Temple defeated LaSalle
, Charlotte
and St. Joseph's
to win the conference title and an automatic berth to the 2008 NCAA tournament
. Christmas was named Most Outstanding Player of the event after scoring 57 points in the three games, including 22 in the final game.
Christmas entered his senior year
with pre-season All-American buzz. He was tabbed an Atlantic 10 preseason All-conference pick and was on the candidate list for both the Wooden Award and the Lowe's Senior Class Award. On December 13, 2008, he scored a season-high 35 points in a nationally televised upset of #8 Tennessee
. He was tabbed ESPN.com
National Player of the Week for his efforts.
Christmas finished his Temple career with 2,043 points, becoming only the fourth player in school history to eclipse the 2000-point mark. During his senior season, he set school records for most three-pointers in a season (107) and career (317). He ranks in Temple's all-time top ten in three-pointers attempted and three-point field goal percentage. He is also the first player to lead the Atlantic-10 in scoring for three consecutive seasons.
summer league team in Orlando. He was also invited to play with the Los Angeles Clippers
in the 2009 Las Vegas Summer League. On September 29, 2009, he was signed by the 76ers but was waived less than a month later on October 21, 2009.
Christmas has played professionally for Hapoel Afula
in Israel
for the 2009-2010 season.
Christmas has played for the Sacramento Kings
in the NBA Summer League
in 2010.
In February 2011 he signed with ČEZ Basketball Nymburk
in Czech Republic
.
In April 2011 he signed with PAOK B.C. in Greece
until the end of the season.
In October 2011 he signed with Rethymno
in Greece
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. Christmas is listed as 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) and 205 lb (93 kg).
High school career
Christmas attended Samuel Fels High School in Philadelphia. In his junior year (2002–03), he averaged 17.7 points per game and was named honorable mention all-Public. He followed this by leading the City of Philadelphia in scoring, averaging 26.5 points per game and gained first team all-Public honors, as well as being named third team all-City.After completing his career at Samuel Fels, Christmas prepped for a year at Philadelphia's Lutheran Christian Academy. He averaged 18 points per game on a team that went 35-3 and ultimately placed nine players on division I basketball rosters.
Collegiate career
Christmas was a reserve as a freshman (2005–06) on a TempleTemple Owls
Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has a very long-running athletic program. The school's sports teams are called the Owls, originating from the university's early days as a night school. The current athletic director is Bill Bradshaw....
team that went 17-15 and featured future NBA player Mardy Collins
Mardy Collins
Maurice Rodney "Mardy" Collins is an American professional basketball player. He completed his college basketball career at Temple University, and was drafted by the New York Knicks with the 29th pick of the first round of the 2006 NBA Draft.-High school:Collins attended Simon Gratz High School in...
. The team went to the NIT
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
, giving Christmas his first taste of post-season play.
Christmas broke out his sophomore year (2006–07), leading Temple and the Atlantic 10 in scoring at 20 points per game. He was named second team All-Conference and the league's Most Improved Player. He also garnered his first Philadelphia Big 5
Philadelphia Big 5
The Philadelphia Big 5 is an informal association of college athletic programs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It is not a conference; indeed the five schools that are members of the Big 5 are members of three separate conferences: the Atlantic 10, the Big East, and the Ivy League.The five...
recognition as he was named first team All Big 5. However, the year was disappointing from a team standpoint as Temple went 12-18 and missed the post-season.
Christmas picked up where he left off in his junior season (2007–08), again leading the Atlantic 10 in scoring at 19.7 ppg. In doing so, he became only the third player in the history of the conference to lead the league in scoring in consecutive seasons. At the end of the year, Christmas was named first team all-conference and Big 5. In the 2008 Atlantic 10 tournament
2008 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2008 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Tournament was played at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey from March 12 through March 15, 2008. By winning the tournament, Temple received an automatic bid to the 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and was crowned Atlantic 10 Conference...
, Temple defeated LaSalle
La Salle Explorers men's basketball
The La Salle Explorers Men's Basketball Team is the college basketball program representing La Salle University.-History:The program has been rated the 53rd "Greatest College Basketball Program of All-Time" by Street & Smith's magazine and 71st by the ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia.La Salle...
, Charlotte
Charlotte 49ers
The Charlotte 49ers represent the NCAA Division I sports teams of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Charlotte joined the Atlantic 10 in 2005. The 49ers field 16 teams, 8 men and 8 women....
and St. Joseph's
Saint Joseph's Hawks men's basketball
The Saint Joseph's Hawks men's basketball team represents Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Its home court is the Hagan Arena. The team's only Final Four appearance in 1961 was removed from the NCAA records due to a gambling scandal. Through...
to win the conference title and an automatic berth to the 2008 NCAA tournament
2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2007–08 basketball season...
. Christmas was named Most Outstanding Player of the event after scoring 57 points in the three games, including 22 in the final game.
Christmas entered his senior year
2008–09 Temple Owls men's basketball team
The 2008–09 Temple Owls men's basketball team represented Temple University in the 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They were led by head coach Fran Dunphy and played their home games at the Liacouras Center. The Owls are members of the Atlantic 10 Conference. They finished the...
with pre-season All-American buzz. He was tabbed an Atlantic 10 preseason All-conference pick and was on the candidate list for both the Wooden Award and the Lowe's Senior Class Award. On December 13, 2008, he scored a season-high 35 points in a nationally televised upset of #8 Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers basketball
The Tennessee Volunteers basketball team represents the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee in NCAA men's basketball competition. The Volunteers currently compete in the Southeastern Conference...
. He was tabbed ESPN.com
ESPN.com
ESPN.com is the official website of ESPN and a division of ESPN Inc. Since launching in 1995 as ESPNet.SportsZone.com, the website has developed numerous sections including: Page 2, SportsNation, ESPN 3.com, ESPN Motion, My ESPN, ESPN Sports Travel, ESPN Video Games, ESPN Insider, ESPN.com's...
National Player of the Week for his efforts.
Christmas finished his Temple career with 2,043 points, becoming only the fourth player in school history to eclipse the 2000-point mark. During his senior season, he set school records for most three-pointers in a season (107) and career (317). He ranks in Temple's all-time top ten in three-pointers attempted and three-point field goal percentage. He is also the first player to lead the Atlantic-10 in scoring for three consecutive seasons.
College statistics
| Season | Team | G | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | FG% | 3P% | FT% | MIN | TO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-06 | Temple Owls Temple Owls men's basketball The Temple Owls men's basketball team represents Temple University in the Atlantic 10 Conference at the Division I level. The program is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The head men's basketball coach is Fran Dunphy.-History:... |
32 | 3.5 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 | .281 | .250 | .587 | 11.3 | 0.4 |
| 2006-07 | Temple Owls Temple Owls men's basketball The Temple Owls men's basketball team represents Temple University in the Atlantic 10 Conference at the Division I level. The program is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The head men's basketball coach is Fran Dunphy.-History:... |
30 | 20.0 | 4.2 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 0.4 | .466 | .400 | .871 | 34.3 | 2.4 |
| 2007-08 | Temple Owls Temple Owls men's basketball The Temple Owls men's basketball team represents Temple University in the Atlantic 10 Conference at the Division I level. The program is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The head men's basketball coach is Fran Dunphy.-History:... |
34 | 19.7 | 5.9 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 0.2 | .439 | .369 | .772 | 37.2 | 2.8 |
| 2008-09 | Temple Owls Temple Owls men's basketball The Temple Owls men's basketball team represents Temple University in the Atlantic 10 Conference at the Division I level. The program is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The head men's basketball coach is Fran Dunphy.-History:... |
34 | 19.5 | 5.8 | 2.9 | 1.5 | 0.1 | .414 | .352 | .753 | 35.0 | 2.9 |
| Totals: | 130 | 15.7 | 4.4 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 0.2 | .425 | .360 | .777 | 29.6 | 2.2 | |
Professional career
Christmas was undrafted during the 2009 NBA draft but on June 28, he was invited to join the Philadelphia 76ersPhiladelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
summer league team in Orlando. He was also invited to play with the Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
in the 2009 Las Vegas Summer League. On September 29, 2009, he was signed by the 76ers but was waived less than a month later on October 21, 2009.
Christmas has played professionally for Hapoel Afula
Hapoel Afula
Hapoel Afula is a basketball club based in Afula. It currently plays in the Liga Leumit.-History:The club was established in 1968, and were members of the top division during the 1970s and 1980s. A decline saw the club merge with Hapoel Gilboa to form Hapoel Gilboa/Afula...
in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
for the 2009-2010 season.
Christmas has played for the Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
in the NBA Summer League
NBA Summer League
The NBA Summer League is a period during which NBA teams come together to try out different summer rosters instead of their regular season line-ups. Typically, there is a mix of rookies and some of the younger bench players to see how well some players work with others...
in 2010.
In February 2011 he signed with ČEZ Basketball Nymburk
CEZ Basketball Nymburk
ČEZ Basketball Nymburk is a professional basketball team that plays in the top professional Czech basketball league, the NBL. The team is based in the town of Nymburk. The club's main sponsor is ČEZ, a Czech energy company.-History:...
in Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
.
In April 2011 he signed with PAOK B.C. in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
until the end of the season.
In October 2011 he signed with Rethymno
Rethymno BC
A.G.O.R. Aegean B.C. or A.G.O. Rethymno Aegean B.C., is a Greek professional basketball club that was founded in Rethymno, Crete in 1986. The club is also commonly known as Rethymno B.C. or Rethymno Aegean B.C...
in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....