Number 4 - Chris Anstey

Hey Everyone,

First off, I would like to thank those people who left positive feedback for my first post. It has given me some added confidence and now I am back to write my second post. I hope you all enjoy it as much as the first.....

Number 4. Chris Anstey

Born: January 1, 1975 in Melbourne, Victoria

Height: 213cm

Position: Centre


Drafted: 1997 / Round: 1 / Pick: 18th overall

NBA Career Stats:

Season	Age	Tm	Lg	Pos	G	GS	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
1997-98	23	DAL	NBA	C	41	8	16.6	2.2	5.6	.398	0.1	0.4	.188	1.3	1.8	.716	1.3	2.5	3.8	0.9	0.8	0.7	1.0	2.3	5.9
1998-99	24	DAL	NBA	C	41	4	11.5	1.2	3.4	.360	0.0	0.2	.000	0.8	1.2	.708	0.9	1.5	2.4	0.7	0.4	0.3	0.6	2.4	3.3
1999-00	25	CHI	NBA	C	73	11	13.8	2.2	5.0	.442	0.0	0.1	.167	1.6	2.0	.789	1.2	2.6	3.8	0.9	0.4	0.3	1.1	2.5	6.0
Career			NBA		155	23	13.9	2.0	4.7	.413	0.0	0.2	.138	1.3	1.7	.755	1.1	2.3	3.4	0.8	0.5	0.4	0.9	2.4	5.2

For someone who has made such a successful career out of basketball, the sport itself did not appeal to Chris until late into his teens. His original passion was tennis and he was ranked at number 2 in the country as a 15 year old. However, he had a change of heart at 17 and decided to focus his attention on basketball. In 1994, he joined the Melbourne Tigers in the National Australian Basketball League (NBL) and had a successful 3 year career in his homeland (earning the most improved player award in 1996) before deciding to focus his attention overseas, specifically the NBA.

1997 was a special year for Chris, as he was selected in the first round of the NBA draft at pick 18 by the Portland Trailblazers. However, his draft rights were traded that night to the Dallas Mavericks and this is where Chris started his NBA career. Chris has a solid first season in the NBA, playing 41 games (8 starts) and averaging 5.9 points and 3.8 rebounds. However, his numbers dipped in his second season and he was subsequently traded in the offseason of 1999 to the Chicago Bulls for a future second round pick. Chicago is where Chris produced his best NBA numbers, averaging 6.0 PPG and 3.8 RPG on 44.2 FG% over the course of 73 games (11 starts). The same couldn't be said about his team and they finished with the worst record in the league, winning 17 out of a possible 82 games. Most will say the teams performance damaged Anstey's reputation and the 1999-2000 NBA season would be his last. Anstey owns career NBA averages of 5.2 PPG, 3.4 RPG and 0.4 BPG in 155 games with 23 starts.

Anstey continued to play within Europe and Australian leagues until 2010 and has now transitioned into the coaching scene. He has been head coach of the Melbourne Tigers (NBL) for the past two seasons and is spreading the experience and knowledge gained via the American premier league, onto Australia's upcoming talent. Australian basketball fans are hoping more players can follow the path of Chris and can make the transition from Australia's NBL, over into the NBA.