Christmas is now low man on the Sixers' tree

After spending three seasons as the go-to guy for the Temple basketball team, Dionte Christmas is now racking the balls when practice is over and making late-night runs to the store for veteran teammates.

But the 6-foot-5 shooting guard doesn't mind a bit. After all, he is in training camp with his hometown 76ers, getting a chance to earn a spot in the NBA. The team is based at St. Joseph's University, where it got together yesterday morning for a 2-hour, 30-minute session.

"I'm just trying to get my foot in the door right now," said Christmas, who attended Samuel Fels High and Lutheran Christian Academy in Philadelphia before heading to Temple and leading the Atlantic Ten Conference in scoring the last three seasons.

On a team with 13 guaranteed contracts - Sixers president and general manager Ed Stefanski has said the team won't necessarily keep as many as 14 players - Christmas has come in as a rookie with the slimmest of chances to make the squad.

But the same could be said for the four other free agents the Sixers invited to camp: forwards Brandon Bowman (6-9) and Rashad Jones-Jennings (6-8); forward/center Stromile Swift (6-10); and guard Sean Singletary (6-0), who attended Penn Charter.

"They told us we all have a legitimate shot," Christmas said. "They said, 'Just come in and work hard, and do what you do. If you're a shooter, shoot.' "

Christmas is a shooter, and he said he had been shooting the ball well. But Sixers assistant coach Aaron McKie, who preceded Christmas at Temple as well as with the Sixers, has prodded his charge to be more versatile.

With his teammates, Christmas is trying to learn and execute the Princeton offense being installed by first-year coach Eddie Jordan.

"Every shot I take is going in, or going in and out," Christmas said. "I've been shooting a high percentage. But Coach McKie told me to show I can do more than shoot. He said for me to make it tough on them. It's a lot different from college, where I was the main focus. I'm getting here an hour-and-a-half early just to go over the plays with the coaches."

Christmas understands the numbers game that is the NBA. And the numbers the Sixers are working with are not in his favor.

"If it does come up with me getting waived, or cut, or whatever, and I have to make a decision, I will make that decision," Christmas said. "Right now, I'm not even thinking about it. My focus is on the Sixers and this great opportunity."

Notes. Jordan commended the Sixers yesterday for their basketball IQ and for the unselfishness of the team's core scorers. . . . Swift continues to struggle with a strained hamstring, so he sat out yesterday. . . . Last night, the Sixers scrimmaged in front of season-ticket holders, premium-seat holders, and selected sponsors.