Boston Celtics forward Gigi Datome went from complete unknown to cult hero seemingly overnight this season, and after reading his latest Facebook post, it’s easy to see why.
Datome, who is set to hit free agency this offseason, penned a lengthy thank-you note to the Celtics organization and fans Monday, one day after the C’s were swept out of the playoffs by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“I want to thank Boston and the Celtics for the last (two) months spent together,” he wrote. “I will never forget the (G)arden chanting my name!”
Datome heard his name chanted quite often during his brief tenure with the team, as Gigi Time became nearly as popular as Gino Time at TD Garden.
The 27-year-old played just 14 total minutes in the Celtics’ four-game series loss to the Cavs, but he had the ball in his hands in the final minute of Sunday’s clincher. Datome’s 3-point attempt with 30 seconds remaining would have cut Cleveland’s lead to three and likely caused the Garden to spontaneously combust.
But the shot — the last of Boston’s season — missed its mark, allowing the Cavs to put the finishing touches on a 101-93 win.
Datome saw action in 21 games for the Celtics during the regular season after being acquired from the Detroit Pistons at the trade deadline, averaging 5.2 points and 1.4 rebounds. His finest game came in his only start: a 22-point performance against the Milwaukee Bucks in the regular-season finale.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
