Breakers’ Christmas present
‘‘It’s kind of a good story,’’ new Breakers import Rakeem Christmas says in a rather laidback manner as he sits down to share his basketball story.
From growing up playing baseball in the Virgin Islands to gracing the courts of the NBA and having the ear of Michael Jordan, that was kind of an understatement.
‘‘I started playing basketball real late,’’ Christmas said. ‘‘I went to the [United] States to have fun and be with my aunt and then it started taking off. I had no idea I was going to be in this situation.’’
Christmas’ extraordinary journey took another unexpected twist this week when he signed on to finish the Australian NBL season with the Breakers.
The 2.06m big man came to Auckland on the advice of fellow import D J Newbill, who he played against in high school, and former college team-mate Eric Devendorf.
But when it comes to people he can turn to for guidance, they stretch right to the top of the basketball world.
Christmas’ partner Jasmine Jordan also happens to be the daughter of Michael. Yes, that Michael, arguably the greatest player to ever take the court and one of the biggest names in global sport.
The 26-year-old’s relationship with Michael Jordan stretches beyond the sport and hoops is not typically the topic of conversation.
But he does consult ‘His Airness’ on important decisions, such as the call to part ways with Turkish club Galatasaray in November, which ultimately paved the way to join the Breakers.
‘‘Whenever I see him we talk a little bit,’’ Christmas said. ‘‘When I was home just now we’d be at the Hornets [the NBA team Jordan owns] games and we would talk about little things. He always gives me tips and advice with certain decisions that I’d ask him about.
‘‘When I was in Turkey, he figured it was the right thing to do at the time because there was a lot going on out there.
‘‘He just wants the best for me so we don’t really talk about basketball that much.’’
Christmas first met Jasmine at New York’s Syracuse University, where he spent four years laying the ground work to reach the NBA.
However, basketball was never in the picture until his early teens.
Born in New Jersey, Christmas moved to St Croix in the Virgin Islands with his mother, who passed away when he was just five.
Christmas remained there with his grandmother until he was 13. But with opportunities limited on the 210km square islet, he moved to Philadelphia to live with his aunt.
The Caribbean island will always have a special place in his heart, though.
He recently had a court built for the island’s youth, reportedly spending more than US$65,000 out of his own pocket.
And with Newbill having claimed his favoured No 25 (‘‘25 and Christmas go hand in hand’’), Christmas will wear No 34 at the Breakers – adapted from the Virgin Islands’ area code of 340.
‘‘They have tournaments for the kids, and I always go back. They never have much going on for them so I try my best to bring my friends down there to interact with them.’’
Basketball wasn’t a natural fit, but with the encouragement of his aunt and the help of a big growth spurt, things took off.
He started getting ranked in high school, scouts began to call and in his senior year he was selected in the McDonald’s All-American Game, alongside current NBA stars Anthony Davis and Bradley Beal, as one of the top young players in the US.
Recruited by Syracuse, Christmas excelled both on and off the court, becoming one of the first basketball players at the college to complete a degree in just three years.
And in 2015, he capped off his remarkable rise by being drafted into the NBA.
Selected 36th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves, Christmas was eventually traded to the Indiana Pacers, playing 30 games over two seasons.
An ankle injury last year restricted his opportunities in the NBA’s Summer League and in the cut-throat world of the world’s premier basketball league, he was waived by the Pacers in July.
Yet the lessons learned playing with and against the best players on the planet will undoubtedly prove invaluable.
‘‘I learned a lot from the veterans. I played with Paul George, Al Jefferson, Myles Turner, Monta Ellis, and they always told me to go out there and do what I do well.
‘‘I’m a physical player, I try to dunk everything I can, and that’s one key that got me going throughout my career. Just being that physical guy, playing defence, blocking shots and doing all the little things.’’
It has been a whirlwind week for Christmas.
He arrived in Auckland on Monday, met his new team-mates on Tuesday and was set to make his Breakers debut during last night’s road game against the Illawarra Hawks.
Wollongong is a long way from the bright lights of the NBA and while he has not given up hope of a return, Christmas is ready to start his next chapter.
‘‘You never know what can happen from here,’’ he said. ‘‘I want to come here, do what I do, produce and just have fun.’’
I want to come here, do what I do, produce and just have fun. Rakeem Christmas