For the first time this season, second-year big man Rakeem Christmas has been assigned to the Pacers’ development team, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.
In making the two-hour drive on I-69 Thursday morning, Christmas will join a group that includes four players from training camp: Ben Bentil, Alex Poythress, Julyan Stone, Nick Zeisloft, along with former IU standout Christian Watford.
It sounds like rookie Ben Bentil will miss some time. We should learn more from the Mad Ants soon.
Christmas, 24, spent most of his rookie season with the Mad Ants. He averaged 13.9 points and 7.2 rebounds last season over 48 games.
Christmas played in one NBA game last season, the last one. Through a dozen games this season (6-6), Christmas has played once — seven minutes in a 118-101 loss at Chicago on Oct. 29.