Chris Anstey

Chris Anstey
Personal information
Born (1975-01-01) 1 January 1975
Melbourne, Victoria
Nationality Australian
Listed height 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Listed weight 253 lb (115 kg)
Career information
NBA draft 1997 / Round: 1 / Pick: 18th overall
Selected by the Portland Trail Blazers
Playing career 1994–2010
Position Center
Number 11, 13, 22
Coaching career 2012–2014
Career history
As player:
1994 Melbourne Tigers
1995–1997 South East Melbourne Magic
1997–1999 Dallas Mavericks
1999–2000 Chicago Bulls
2001–2002 Victoria Titans
2002–2003 Ural Great
2003–2005 UNICS Kazan
2005–2010 Melbourne Tigers
As coach:
2012–2014 Melbourne Tigers/United
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Christopher John "Chris" Anstey (born 1 January 1975) is an Australian former professional basketball player. 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, South East Melbourne Magic and Victoria Titans in the NBL. He retired at the end of the 2009–10 season while with the Tigers and later became the team's head coach in 2012.

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 and regularly playing doubles with Mark Philippoussis. In 1994 he joined the Melbourne Tigers and was team mates with some of the most recognisable names in Australian basketball, such as Andrew Gaze, Mark Bradtke, and Lanard Copeland, as well as head coach Lindsay Gaze. After one season with the Tigers, Anstey was signed by South East Melbourne Magic coach Brian Goorjian. He played for the Magic from 1995–1997, earning NBL's Most Improved Player award in 1996 as well as the 1996 NBL Championship, 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 17 March. 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.

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 3 APS titles, 2 McDonald's Cups and 1National 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] On 13 October 2014, he stepped down as head of Melbourne following United's 2014–15 season opening loss to Cairns.[4]

Career highlights

On 13 September 2000, Anstey was awarded the Australian Sports Medal.[5]

Corporate

In 2010, Anstey founded the TLC Group, which comprises TLC Mentoring, TLC Management and TLC Events.[6] The TLC Group provides services and programs to students, athletes, corporate groups and general audiences. He resigned from the TLC Group in 2014.

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

Appointed Company Ambassador to La Trobe Financial in 2015

Personal

Anstey is married to Ilsa (née Wakeling). They celebrated the birth of their son, Hunter Eric Anstey, on 12 March 2015. They reside in Melbourne with Anstey's two children, Isobel and Ethan.[7][8][9]

References

  1. ↑ Chris Anstey NBA & ABA Stats
  2. ↑ New coach Anstey vows Tigers will challenge
  3. ↑ TIGERS RE-SIGN LEGEND COACHING PANEL
  4. ↑ Statement from Melbourne United Archived 15 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ "Chris Anstey". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  6. ↑ TLC Group
  7. ↑ In the paint with Chris Anstey
  8. ↑ Chris Anstey's wife Ilsa joins Victoria Softball Board
  9. ↑ Chris and Ilsa Anstey marry
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