Rakeem Christmas Named NBA Development League Performer Of The Week

ST. CROIX — Rakeem Christmas, the Virgin Islands latest athlete to be drafted in the NBA, on Monday was named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played Monday, Nov. 30 – Sunday, Dec. 6, according to the NBA.

Mr. Christmas, on assignment from the Indiana Pacers, (6-9, 239, Syracuse) led the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, an NBA Development League team owned by Herbert Simon, who also owns the Indiana Pacers, to a 3-0 week behind averages 24.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.7 blocks.

On Dec. 2, Mr. Christmas recorded a double-double with 25 points and 13 rebounds as part of a 98-97 victory to hand the Westchester Knicks their first loss of the season, according to the NBA. His performance was equally as strong with a five-block effort in a 98-94 win over the Canton Charge on Dec. 4.

On Dec. 6, Mr. Christmas scored a career-high 30 points on 11-for-15 shooting. His rebounding and blocking game was solid as well, managing seven rebounds, three blocks and two assists in a 105-92 victory over the Grand Rapids Drive.

Mr. Christmas, originally from New Jersey, moved to St. Croix at the age of 2 with his mother, Landra Hamid, according to his Wikipedia page. His mother died at the age of 28 due to kidney failure, and young Christmas was raised by his grandmother. The Virgin Islander’s successful draft to the NBA is the first for the territory since Tim Duncan.

Days before the draft, however, Mr. Christmas updated his official Facebook profile with a status expressing gratitude to those who supported him throughout his journey of what he said was his “ultimate dream.”

“I am so honored and blessed to be fulfilling my ultimate dream of being drafted and playing in the NBA,” Mr. Christmas wrote. “Starting as a young’n from St. Croix, it is amazing to look back on the journey and see how far I have come.

“With the support of my family, friends, coaches, and teammates, I have been able to succeed every step of the way and improve myself both on and off the court.”

Christmas said being drafted in the NBA was a new chapter in his basketball career, and added that he looks forward to “getting out on the court and competing day and night to become the best player I can be.”

At a give-back event held at the Boys & Girls Club in Frederiksted in July, the NBA start told The Consortium that he wanted to encourage the teens to “go out there, work hard and be a good person, stay good in school and everything will fall in place.

He added: “It’s the course that I took in my life and it’s been going good for me, and that’s why I’m in this position that I’m in right now.”