 Anderson in 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Fisk Bulldogs | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Head coach | ||||||||||||||||||||
| League | Gulf Coast Athletic Conference | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1970-10-09)October 9, 1970 (age 55) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 168 lb (76 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||||||
| High school | Archbishop Molloy (New York City, New York) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| College | Georgia Tech (1989–1991) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| NBA draft | 1991: 1st round, 2nd overall pick | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Drafted by | New Jersey Nets | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 1991–2006 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Point guard | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 7, 12, 17, 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Coaching career | 2007–2008, 2018–present | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||
Playing | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1991–1996 | New Jersey Nets | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996 | Charlotte Hornets | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996–1998 | Portland Trail Blazers | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998–2002 | Boston Celtics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2003 | Seattle SuperSonics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003 | New Orleans Hornets | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2004 | Indiana Pacers | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2005 | Atlanta Hawks | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005 | Los Angeles Clippers | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2006 | Žalgiris Kaunas | ||||||||||||||||||||
Coaching | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2008 | Atlanta Krunk | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2024 | Fisk | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights | |||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||
| Career NBA statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Points | 10,789 (12.6 ppg) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Rebounds | 2,641 (3.1 rpg) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Assists | 5,196 (6.1 apg) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Stats at NBA.com  | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |||||||||||||||||||||
Medals
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Kenneth Anderson (born October 9, 1970) is an American former professionalbasketball player. After a college career atGeorgia Tech, he playedpoint guard professionally from 1991 to 2006, mostly in theNational Basketball Association.
Anderson was born inQueens,New York City. As a 16-year-old high school sophomore, theLeFrak City, Queens native who attended academic and athletic powerhouseArchbishop Molloy High School inBriarwood, Queens, was considered one of the best basketball prospects in America.[1][2] Collegiate recruiters began scouting Anderson in sixth grade and he was on the front page of the New York City sports section when he was 14.[3]
By the end of his high school career, he was a four-timeParade All-American, a feat not accomplished sinceLew Alcindor, and the first player to be named All-City four times. He was aMcDonald's All-American, was namedNew York State Mr. Basketball by the New York State Coaches Organization, and named High School Basketball Player of the Year by Gatorade, theNew York State Sportswriters Association,Parade, Naismith, andUSA Today[4] Despite his coach,Jack Curran, benching him for the first quarter of all of his games during his freshman year at Molloy, Anderson set the all-time state record for scoring in New York, with 2,621 points. This record stood until 2004, whenLincoln High School guardSebastian Telfair eclipsed the mark late in his senior season. He was considered the No. 1 player in the country, over such notables asJimmy Jackson andShaquille O'Neal.
After a long recruiting process, Anderson signed a letter of intent in November 1988 to play atGeorgia Tech, selecting the Yellow Jackets overNorth Carolina,Duke, andSyracuse.[5]
Anderson played two years for Georgia Tech as the team's starting point guard, helping lead the team to the Final Four in1990, along with swingmenDennis Scott andBrian Oliver. The trio was nicknamed "Lethal Weapon 3".[6] Despite winning the ACC title, they entered the NCAA tourney as only the fourth seed. They proceeded to sweep through theLSU Tigers, led byShaquille O'Neal, and two Big 10 teams on their way to the Final Four. Georgia Tech's tournament run ended against eventual championsUNLV in the Final Four.
With Scott and Oliver gone after that season, Anderson averaged nearly 26 points per game. Georgia Tech secured a No. 8 seed for the1991 NCAA tournament, where they lost in the second round toOhio State. Soon after, Anderson announced that he would forgo his last two years of eligibility to enter theNBA draft.
Anderson was selected by theNew Jersey Nets with the second pick in the1991 NBA draft. He was the youngest player in the league in his rookie year, and averaged seven points, tworebounds, and 3.2assists per game. During Anderson's second season he nearly doubled his point, rebound, and assist averages en route to the Nets making the1993 NBA playoffs. While in New Jersey, coached byChuck Daly, Anderson formed what was widely expected to become a "big three" of sorts withDerrick Coleman andDražen Petrović.[7] However, Petrović's 1993 death in a car accident prevented this from coming to fruition.[8] In histhird season, he averaged career highs of 18.8 points and 9.6 assists per game.[9] That season, on February 18, 1994, Anderson scored 42 points and recorded 12 assists during a 110–113 win over the [Washington Bullets]] and, April 15, 1994, Anderson scored a career-high 45 points and recorded 14 assists againstDetroit Pistons.[10] That same season, Anderson and teammate Coleman represented the East squad in the1994 NBA All-Star Game.[11]
He was traded to theCharlotte Hornets in 1996, along withGerald Glass, in a deal forKhalid Reeves andKendall Gill. Anderson played only 38 games in the 1996 season for the Hornets after the midseason trade, averaging 15.2 points.[12][13]
In 1996, Anderson signed with thePortland Trail Blazers. During the1997 NBA playoffs, Anderson averaged 17 points, 4.8 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game during Portland's first-round loss to theLos Angeles Lakers.[14]
In 1998, the Trail Blazers traded Anderson, along withAlvin Williams,Gary Trent, and two 1998 first-round picks to theToronto Raptors forDamon Stoudamire,Carlos Rogers,Walt Williams, and a 1998 second-round pick, but he refused to report to the team because he did not want to play in Canada, which prompted the Raptors to trade him to theBoston Celtics five days later, along withŽan Tabak andPopeye Jones forJohn Thomas,Roy Rogers,Chauncey Billups, andDee Brown.
In 2003, Anderson was traded to theSeattle SuperSonics, along withVitaly Potapenko andJoseph Forte, and in a package forVin Baker andShammond Williams.
At the 2003 NBA trade deadline, Anderson was dealt back to the Hornets, who had since relocated to New Orleans, forElden Campbell.
On September 19, 2003, Anderson signed a contract with theIndiana Pacers. Anderson played 44 games as a member of the Pacers, averaging six points per game.
On September 16, 2004, Anderson signed a contract with theAtlanta Hawks. He was waived by the Hawks on February 24, 2005.
On February 28, 2005, Anderson was claimed off waivers by theLos Angeles Clippers after being waived by the Hawks. He was later waived by the Clippers on March 25, 2005.
Anderson was released fromLithuania'sŽalgiris Kaunas after the 2005–06 season, thus ending his professional career as a basketball player.
Anderson played for theU.S. national team in the1990 FIBA World Championship, where they won the bronze medal.[15] His play was instrumental for the United States and included 34 points performance in their 107–105 comeback overtime win against Puerto Rico in the bronze medal game. For his effort he was named to theAll-Tournament Team which includedVlade Divac,Toni Kukoč,Oscar Schmidt andFico Lopez.[16]
Anderson was raised by his mother, Joan, and did not meet his father until he was in his thirties.[17] He has two sisters, Sandra and Danielle.[18] He was poor growing up, but Anderson says that being able to provide for his mother was inspiration for him to become a professional basketball player.[17] In October 2005, his mother died from aheart attack.[17]
Anderson is the father of seven children, by four women. He became a father of a daughter, Danielle while attending Georgia Tech.[17] He had a relationship with Dee Dee Roper (DJ Spinderella of the rap groupSalt-N-Pepa), and they have daughter Christy together.[19][20] Christy later appeared on an episode ofMy Super Sweet 16.[21]
He was married toTami Roman (who has appeared on the reality seriesBasketball Wives),[22] but they divorced. They have two daughters, Lyric and hip-hop artist Jazz Anderson.[19]
Anderson met his second wife Tamiyka R Lockhart in West Los Angeles in 1998 while they both were going through divorces. They have a son together, Kenneth Anderson Jr. They divorced in 2004. During this marriage he had another son born to his mistress Suny Castro also named Kenneth Anderson Jr.[17]
He met his third wife, Natasha, during the 2004 NBA playoffs. They married in 2007.[17] Anderson and Natasha are raising his son Kenny Jr. and her daughter Tiana.[17]
In 2005, despite earning $63 million during his NBA career, Anderson filed forbankruptcy.[23]
In December 2011, he was arrested after crashing into two trees and fleeing the scene. No one was injured, and he was not charged with DUI, although he was charged with leaving the scene.[24]
On 27 April 2013, he was arrested in Florida for drunk driving.[24]
In 2013, Anderson reported that he was sexually abused as a child by both a person who lived in his neighborhood and a basketball coach.[25]
In February 2019, Anderson was hospitalized for several days near his home ofPembroke Pines, Florida after suffering astroke.[26]
In 2007, Anderson was named as the coach of theContinental Basketball Association'sAtlanta Krunk.[27] He accumulated a 9–19 record during the 2007–08 season.[28]
In 2008, Anderson made a TV appearance onPros vs Joes.
In September 2008, he was inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame.[29]
In 2008, he became the head coach ofslamball teamHombres, and helped them to a semi-finals berth.
Anderson graduated in 2010 fromSt. Thomas University in Miami, with a degree in organizational leadership.[30][31]
In August 2011, Anderson took the position of basketball coach at theDavid Posnack Jewish Day School inDavie, Florida.[32] In May 2013, following a DUI arrest, the school indicated that they would not renew his contract.[33]
In 2014, Anderson was named to a team assembled byDennis Rodman as part of his "basketball diplomacy" effort inNorth Korea with the job of playing an exhibition match against the North Korean Senior National Team to celebrate the birthday ofKim Jong-un.[34] Anderson later said that upon arrival, he felt he had let down friends, family and fans but also had no choice but to go through with the event. He said he would donate some of his earnings, which were not paid by the regime, to charity.[35]
In 2015, Anderson appeared inDwayne Johnson's reality TV showWake Up Call.
In 2017, Anderson appeared inMr. Chibbs, directed by Jill Campbell. This documentary tracked Anderson's life post basketball as he came to terms with personal demons in his life.
In 2018, Anderson was hired as the head basketball coach forFisk University.[36]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| * | Led the league |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991–92 | New Jersey | 64 | 13 | 17.0 | .390 | .231 | .745 | 2.0 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 7.0 |
| 1992–93 | New Jersey | 55 | 55 | 36.5 | .435 | .280 | .776 | 4.1 | 8.2 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 16.9 |
| 1993–94 | New Jersey | 82* | 82* | 38.2 | .417 | .303 | .818 | 3.9 | 9.6 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 18.8 |
| 1994–95 | New Jersey | 72 | 70 | 37.3 | .399 | .330 | .841 | 3.5 | 9.4 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 17.6 |
| 1995–96 | New Jersey | 31 | 28 | 33.6 | .376 | .364 | .803 | 3.3 | 8.0 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 15.3 |
| 1995–96 | Charlotte | 38 | 36 | 34.3 | .454 | .357 | .727 | 2.7 | 8.6 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 15.2 |
| 1996–97 | Portland | 82 | 81 | 37.6 | .427 | .361 | .768 | 4.4 | 7.1 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 17.5 |
| 1997–98 | Portland | 45 | 40 | 32.7 | .387 | .353 | .772 | 3.0 | 5.4 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 12.6 |
| 1997–98 | Boston | 16 | 16 | 24.1 | .435 | .370 | .837 | 2.4 | 6.3 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 11.2 |
| 1998–99 | Boston | 34 | 33 | 29.7 | .451 | .250 | .832 | 3.0 | 5.7 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 12.1 |
| 1999–00 | Boston | 82 | 82* | 31.6 | .440 | .386 | .775 | 2.7 | 5.1 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 14.0 |
| 2000–01 | Boston | 33 | 28 | 25.7 | .388 | .333 | .831 | 2.2 | 4.1 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 7.5 |
| 2001–02 | Boston | 76 | 76 | 32.0 | .436 | .273 | .742 | 3.6 | 5.3 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 9.6 |
| 2002–03 | Seattle | 38 | 1 | 18.1 | .440 | .000 | .829 | 2.3 | 3.2 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 6.1 |
| 2002–03 | New Orleans | 23 | 1 | 19.4 | .407 | .500 | .727 | 2.0 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 6.0 |
| 2003–04 | Indiana | 44 | 31 | 20.6 | .441 | .250 | .729 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 6.0 |
| 2004–05 | Atlanta | 39 | 20 | 18.4 | .426 | .462 | .730 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 5.0 |
| 2004–05 | L.A. Clippers | 4 | 0 | 6.5 | .364 | – | – | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| Career | 858 | 693 | 30.1 | .421 | .346 | .790 | 3.1 | 6.1 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 12.6 | |
| All-Star | 1 | 1 | 16.0 | .300 | .000 | – | 4.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.0 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | New Jersey | 3 | 0 | 8.0 | .333 | – | 1.000 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 2.7 |
| 1994 | New Jersey | 4 | 4 | 45.3 | .352 | .300 | .667 | 3.0 | 6.8 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 15.8 |
| 1997 | Portland | 4 | 4 | 42.3 | .478 | .263 | .950 | 4.3 | 4.8 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 17.0 |
| 2002 | Boston | 16 | 16 | 35.0 | .416 | – | .800 | 3.1 | 4.8 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 12.0 |
| 2003 | New Orleans | 5 | 0 | 10.2 | .333 | – | 1.000 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 2.2 |
| 2004 | Indiana | 4 | 0 | 4.8 | .286 | – | – | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
| Career | 36 | 24 | 27.9 | .406 | .276 | .796 | 2.4 | 3.8 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 9.6 | |
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989–90 | Georgia Tech | 35 | 35 | 37.7 | .515 | .410 | .733 | 5.5 | 8.1 | 2.3 | 0.1 | 20.6 |
| 1990–91 | Georgia Tech | 30 | 29 | 38.9 | .437 | .351 | .829 | 5.7 | 5.6 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 25.9 |
| Career | 65 | 64 | 38.3 | .473 | .374 | .787 | 5.6 | 7.0 | 2.6 | 0.1 | 23.0 | |
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