Chris Anstey

Christopher John "Chris" Anstey (born 1 January 1975 in Melbourne, Victoria) is a former Australian professional basketball player and current head coach of the Melbourne Tigers in the Australian based National Basketball League (NBL). At 7'0" (213 cm) his career included stints in the NBA, Russia and Spain. Anstey was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round (18th pick overall) of the 1997 NBA Draft. He also played for the Melbourne Tigers as well as former teams South East Melbourne Magic and the Victoria Titans in the NBL. He retired at the end of the 2009/2010 season while with the Tigers and became the teams head coach the next season.

Anstey resides in Melbourne with his fiancée Ilsa Wakeling and his two children Isobel and Ethan.

Professional career

Early NBL years

Anstey took up basketball at the relatively late age of 17, Before that he was a promising tennis player, peaking at being ranked number 2 amongst Australia's 15 year old players. In 1994 he joined the Melbourne Tigers and was teammates with some of the most recognizable names in Australian basketball, such as Andrew Gaze, Lindsay Gaze, and Lanard Copeland. Anstey played for the South East Melbourne Magic from 1995–1997, earning Most Improved Player in 1996, before going to the NBA.

NBA

Anstey was the 18th overall selection of the 1997 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. His draft rights were traded by the Blazers with cash to the Dallas Mavericks for the draft rights to Kelvin Cato in June 1997. His rookie year, 1997–98, he averaged 5.9 PPG and 3.8 RPG in 16.6 MPG. He scored a career high 26 points against the Boston Celtics on March 17. The next year, his numbers dropped to 3.3 PPG and 2.4 RPG. He was traded by the Mavericks to the Chicago Bulls for a second round draft pick in 2000 in September 1999. He averaged 6.0 PPG and 3.8 RPG on 44.2 FG% in his last NBA season with the Bulls. Anstey owns career NBA averages of 5.2 PPG, 3.4 RPG and 0.4 BPG in 155 games with 23 starts.^[1]

Europe and return to NBL

Anstey returned to the NBL with the Victoria Titans in 2001-2002, winning Best Sixth Man. In 2003, Anstey led Russian club Ural Great Perm to runners up in the Russian Championship, and was named ULEB Cup MVP. In 2004, Anstey signed with UNICS Kazan, and had an All-Star season, leading the team to a EuroChallenge Championship, the first in Russian history. Anstey was a Euroleague All-Star again in 2005. Anstey returned to his native Australia with his original team, the Melbourne Tigers, in 2006. After returning, Anstey enjoyed plenty of success, leading the NBL in blocks in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009; and in rebounding in 2008 and 2009; earning the MVP in 2006 and 2008; Grand Finals MVP in 2006 and Best Defensive Player in 2008. He retired in 2010 after scoring 13 points in his final game.^{[citation needed]}

Olympics and World Championships

Anstey was a member of the Australian Boomers, competing in the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the 2008 Beijing Olympics, though unfortunately he missed the 2004 Athens Olympics due to injury. He was also a member of the Boomers at the 1998 FIBA World Championship in Athens.

Anstey won Gold with the Australian Emus at the 1997 22 & Under World Championships played in his home town of Melbourne where was named as tournament MVP.

Coaching

Anstey was appointed head coach of Caulfield Grammar School's first boys team in 2010 and still holds that position today. His team won an APS title, McDonald's Cup and National Championship.

Anstey coached the Camberwell Dragons senior Men at Big V level in 2011 and 2012, guiding them to consecutive semi finals appearances, representing the most successful period of time in club history.

Anstey was appointed head coach of the Melbourne Tigers for the 2012–13 NBL season.^[2] He was subsequently re-signed as the head coach for 2013–14 for his efforts during 2012–13.^[3]

Career highlights

• 1994 - Melbourne Tigers.
  • NBL Semi-finals.

• 1995 - 97 South East Melbourne Magic.
  • NBL Semi-finals (1995).
  • NBL Championship, Most Improved Player. (1996).
  • NBL Championship runners up (1997).

• 1997
  • Australian National (22&U) team.
    • Won world championships.
    • Named tournament MVP.
  • Selected 18th in the NBA draft.

• 1998
  • Dallas Mavericks
  • Represented Australia at the Goodwill Games.

• 1999
  • Traded to Chicago Bulls in the NBA's offseason.

• 2000
  • Boomers
    • Won Hong Kong Diamond Ball Classic.
    • 4th in the Sydney Olympics.

• 2001
  • Victoria Titans

• 2002
  • NBL All Star Five
  • Australian International Player of the Year

• 2003
  • Ural Great Perm
    • Runner Up to Russian Championship.
    • Russian Championship All Star Five.
    • Russian Championship All Import Team.
    • Russian Championship Best Centre.

• 2004
  • UNICS Kazan
    • FIBA EuropeLeague Champions.
    • FIBA EuropeLeague All Star.
    • Russian Championship Runner Up.

• 2005
  • UNICS Kazan.
    • FIBA EuropeLeague All Star

• 2006
  • Melbourne Tigers
    • NBL Pre-season MVP
    • NBL Regular Season MVP
    • NBL Champions
    • NBL Grand Final Series MVP

• 2008
  • Melbourne Tigers
    • NBL Regular Season MVP
    • NBL Champions
    • NBL Grand Final Series MVP
    • NBL Best Defensive Player
    • 1st place NBL rankings for defensive & total rebounds, and blocks

On 13 September 2000, Anstey was awarded the Australian Sports Medal.^[4]

Corporate

In 2010, Anstey founded the TLC Group, which comprises TLC Mentoring, TLC Management and TLC Events.^[5] The TLC Group provides services and programs to students, athletes, corporate groups and general audiences.

Anstey participated in the 2012 and 2013 EJ Whitten Legends Game at Etihad Stadium, helping to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer.

References

External links