A Conversation with Kenny Anderson
When you think of NYC Basketball, there are a few people who are considered royalty, and Kenny Anderson is at the top of that list. Straight out of Lefrak City, Queens, it’s mostly every youngsters dream to make it to the NBA. Kenny would live out this dream and did so with a chip on his shoulder. The flair, the showmanship … it was all part of the reason why Kenny A was so great. As a youngster, Kenny’s mother nicknamed him Mr. Chibbs and it stuck. He would come out with a documentary of the same name and it would be a MUST-SEE for all basketball fans. Of course, with life, there will be ups and downs… no man is exempt from either. Anderson doesn’t shy away from anything he has gone through but hopes that his story can somehow help someone else who may be going through similar hardship.
Kenny Anderson starred at Archbishop Malloy HS in Queens, NYC and set the NYC scoring record while he was there. Photo courtesy of TWJ.com
Anderson didn’t have a regular childhood. Since the 6th grade, he’s had scouts and reporters at his games. There was no other High School that he ever wanted to go to other than Archbishop Malloy. The school was local for him, convenient and had a great basketball reputation. He played for the legendary Jack Curran, who although was a disciplinarian, taught Kenny how to play the game the right way. Curran wouldn’t let Anderson start as a freshman, so every game he would have to come off the bench. He would still break and hold the High School Basketball scoring record in New York City for many years and was the first player in history to earn All-City honors for 4 years straight.
Anderson attended Georgia Tech where he was awarded with the ACC rookie of the year award in 1990. Photo courtesy of The Sporting News
Anderson could have gone to any college he wanted to. Rumor has it that Duke, North Carolina, Georgia Tech and Syracuse were the finalist in retaining his services. When it came down to make his final decision “it was between Syracuse and Georgia Tech”. When he went to visit Syracuse, it was just too cold for him. He wanted somewhat of a change of climate and so he decided it would be Georgia Tech where he would make his collegiate home. He would join Dennis Scott and Brian Oliver to form “Lethal Weapon 3”, the trio who would eventually win the ACC that year and head into the NCAA tournament as a four seed. They went on to beat a Shaquille O’Neal led LSU team and made it as far as the final 4, only to lose to eventual champion UNLV.
Kenny had some classic duels with Bobby Hurley of Duke. They grew from opponents into the best of friends and still speak today. Photo courtesy of Slam
After a successful Freshman campaign, to everybody’s surprise, Kenny Anderson did not enter the NBA draft and stuck around for his sophomore year. “I just loved college life and didn’t want to leave” Anderson explained. With Scott and Oliver gone, Anderson went crazy! He averaged nearly 26 points a game and qualified for the NCAA tournament as an 8th seed, eventually losing to a strong Ohio State team. He couldn’t dodge the NBA any longer and he soon gave up his two years of eligibility as declared himself eligible for the 1990 NBA draft.
Anderson was drafted by the NJ Nets with the 2nd pick in the 1991 NBA draft. He Had a starring role with the Nets and even was selected as an All Star. Photo Courtesy of Forbes.com
With the 2nd pick in the 1990 NBA draft… the New Jersey Nets select… Kenny Anderson from Georgia Tech. Those are the words made famous by David Stern, former commissioner of the league. “That feeling [to get drafted] was incredible… and to be back home to do it was even more incredible. That was a special time for me because it gave me that stamp… that NBA certified stamp”. After getting comfortable with the Nets he and his teammate Derrick Coleman both made the Eastern Conference All-Star team.
Aside from playing with the Nets, Anderson also played with the Boston Celtics, Portland Trailblazers and a few others. He also played overseas. Photo courtesy of NYTimes.com
After his time in New Jersey, Anderson spent time with the Charlotte Hornets, Portland Trailblazers, Boston Celtics and a number of other teams. He even spent a brief time in Lithuania playing with Žalgiris Kaunas. After basketball slowed down for him, he really dealt with a lot including depression, alcoholism and the death of his mother in 2005. His mom was his number one supporter and through our conversation, I can tell that losing him mom was the single most difficult thing that he ever had to go through. He felt lost for a while and his love for the game pulled him back in. He would come out with “Mr. Chibbs”, an autobiographical account of his life. The documentary lays everything on the table and leaves no stone unturned. I highly recommend watching his documentary if you are a fan of Kenny Anderson or NYC Basketball.
Kenny Anderson, head basketball coach, Fisk University, during halftime in the locker room, Nashville, TN
Credit: Tamara Reynolds for ESPN
We caught up with Kenny Anderson for an exclusive All Things Hoops Interview. He was in New York on business and agreed to meet me for the interview. I was eager to meet the legend as there was so much to talk about. He had recently had a stroke so I naturally wanted to make sure he was ok. On top of that, there was the documentary that he came out with and also his current role as Head Coach at Fisk University in Tennessee that I wanted to discuss. He has been showing the All Things Hoops brand love since day one and I’m glad I got the opportunity to sit and chop it up with him. Check out the interview below: