David Andersen is catching attention of NBA clubs amid Australia’s medal bid in Rio
NBA clubs are circling veteran Boomer David Anderson as his brilliant cameos for Australia jeopardise his imminent move to NBL club Melbourne United.
NBA clubs are circling veteran Boomer David Anderson as his brilliant cameos for Australia jeopardise his imminent move to NBL club Melbourne United.
Anderson admitted yesterday he would be forced to consider potential offers back in America after a remarkable 18-season career.
The 36-year-old has played for a dozen professional clubs in Europe and the NBA, including Toronto, Houston, New Orleans, CSKA Barcelona, FC Moscow and Strasbourg IG.
Asked by News Corp about NBA interest after four exceptional games playing as a back-up to Andrew Bogut, the power forward admitted it wasn’t news to him.
“I mean obviously I have signed with (Melbourne) but you never know what happens in basketball, I have seen crazy things, I have been traded two months after the season and seen crazy things in Europe, so I don’t know what will happen,’’ he said.
“If I am turning heads that’s good, it’s good at my age to be able to play at this level and keep fighting. But for me now it’s about the Olympics.
“Family members are telling me good stuff, that things might open up. As a veteran I have been keeping my legs and doing good things and I made a decision to come home but things can happen.”
Anderson is one of Australia’s most durable and successful basketballers, winning three Euroleague Championships as well as three Russian League Championships.
He left the NBA in 2011 after the lockout over pay claims and his European career has been so lucrative he has at times rebuffed chances to return to the big time.
“I have played both NBA and Europe and when I chose to come back to Europe it was after the lockout and things had changed, and luckily I am still (keeping) my legs,’’ he said.
“I don’t really get concerned with it, I focus on the game coming up and winning a medal.”
Anderson was the centrepiece of Australia’s big man department in London 2012 after Andrew Bogut pulled out with injury.
But against America he knocked down five of six shots for 13 points, against France three of four for seven points and had another 12 points against China in just 14 minutes.
He says that elusive Olympic medal is in reach.
“We are confident, we have got a great belief in this team that we can do something special and we are proving to people that we can,’’ he said.
“We know what our style of play is, we have got a good core of people who have been together for a while now and everyone is contributing. We are putting ourselves in the right position.”
Originally published as David Andersen is catching attention of NBA clubs amid Australia’s medal bid in Rio