David Lee orchestrates player-only dinner in Milan

https://www.bostonherald.com/sports/celtics_nba/celtics_insider/2015/10/celtics_david_lee_orchestrates_player_only_dinner_in



Celtics' David Lee orchestrates player-only dinner in Milan




Photo by: Courtesy photo
Isaiah Thomas, Danny Ainge, Avery Bradley and Kelly Olynyk pose for a photo at Lake Como, Italy, during the Celtics' European trip. Photo Courtesy Boston Celtics

Sunday, October 4, 2015

By:  Mauro Bevacqua





MILAN — The Celtics didn’t have to wait long to witness the first display of leadership from the newly acquired veteran and recent NBA champion David Lee.

The power forward invited all his teammates out to “Il Tavolino” — a nice restaurant not far from the team hotel — for a players-only dinner in their very first night in Milan.

“It’s the nice part of a trip like this,” said the former Warrior. “Nobody brought their families or friends, it’s just us over here, so little things like this one are very important as a way to come together as a team.”

Lee said he values his veteran role from watching the leadership skills of past teammates.

“When I was a rookie in this league I looked up to veterans like Antonio Davis — that old man — and Malik Rose,” Lee said. “I want to be that figure here in Boston. I think it’s important to set a good example, and show them how hard I work and my approach to the game on a daily basis.

"I don’t think a lot of young players want to have somebody give them hour-long speeches nowadays; they want to see a veteran go out there and get the job done on the court — being a good teammate and a professional.”


Jerebko remembers

Cutting his teeth playing in the Italian League for two seasons before making the leap to the NBA, Jonas Jerebko doesn’t hold great memories of the Celtics’ opponents on this trip.

“When I played for Angelico Biella (a small town in between Milan and Turin) in my second season, we reached the league semifinals, and we faced Olimpia Milano in a best-of-5 series, losing 3-1. Had we beaten them, we’d have played for the championship against eventual champion Montepaschi Siena.” ...

Jerebko said that last year’s playoff appearance has made the Celtics want more.

“We got better from last year, when we only spent two months really together,” Jerebko said. “We added strength with David, Amir and the rookie. We ended last season on a high note and we just want to keep building from that.” ...


Where's Gigi?

Some Italian reporters asked Stevens about Gigi Datome, who played 18 games for the Celtics after a trading deadline deal with the Pistons. Datome is playing in Turkey this season.

“Oh, I love Gigi,” Stevens said. “He texted me yesterday, as soon as we arrived in Italy. He’s a great guy, a great teammate. He did a good job for us and I think he’ll do great with Fenerbahce.

“To me, he’s definitely an NBA player, he could be on a team right now, but he got a good opportunity in Turkey and he’s excited about it.”



bob



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I like this idea, but will be even more impressed when veterans like Lee can make the same type of thing happen when they get back to Boston.