Sorry, Boston Celtics fans. Luigi “Gigi” Datome isn’t walking back through that door.
Datome ended any chance of a return to Boston when he signed a two-year contract with Turkish club Fenerbahçe Ülker early Tuesday morning. The Italian forward is heading back overseas after two seasons in the NBA, but he made quite the impression while he was stateside.
Datome, who was traded along with Jonas Jerebko to the Celtics from the Detroit Pistons in February, quickly developed into a fan favorite in Boston. While he averaged just over 10 minutes per game, the 27-year-old’s unique personality and solid play on both ends of the court won him plenty of supporters at TD Garden.
Gigi wrote a lengthy note on Facebook thanking Celtics fans when he hit free agency in April, and he took to Facebook again Tuesday to express gratitude as he enters the next stage of his career.
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@ForeverGreen_
