DEREK ANDERSON FACTS

Welcome to BBallOne's Derek Anderson site. This now famous and exciting player is showing his stuff with the firey Portland TrailBlazers being recently traded from the mighting twin towers Tim Duncan and David Robinson of the San Antoino Spurs. Derek Anderson went to Doss High School in Louisville Kentucky. During his high school years he wasn't just heating it up in basketball, but also in baseball, and in track. He was having a great year in 1992. He basketball jersey was retired and he claimed all state honors in the High Jump

After he passed from Doss High School he joined Ohio State and went in to play for them. He did not stay with the team for a long time and this young star transferred to the Kentucky Wildcats. This all resulted in sitting out the 1994-95 season while he transferred from Ohio State to Kentucky. In 1995 he made a major switch and stayed with the Fighting Wildcats. While he was with the Wildcats, half his team famed while he laid low helping the "Thunder and Lightning," Duo, rule the college basketball world.

As a junior in 1996 Anderson helped the Wildcats win the NCAA National Title, while also earning All-NCAA Tournament Honors in 1996-1997. Also in 1997 the now well know star made on spot on the 1997 All-American team. As a senior at Kentucky Derek missed all his games from Jan. 18 through the Final Four, he earned All-SEC Second Team honors. At Kentucky he came in second on his team scoring an average of 17.7 points a game, shooting .811 free throws, 3.5 assists, and 1.9 steals. In his four year career going from Ohio State to Kentucky, Anderson finished with 1,228 points, 379 rebounds, and 321 assists.

To be a basketball player one needs to have some capabilities some of them including stamina, height and a passion to play for this game at the top level. This all leads to playing at the home court, having the fans yell and jump up and down for joy just as they make a three pointer or a precious free throw to win the game. Once the player is through with all this he then goes to play High School and a very few are able to reach a goal to play in the NBA circuit. There are people that absolutely shine, being better then everyone else. This dream was seen by Derek Anderson, he had this dream which he achieved and reached an incredible level just like many of the other NBA athletes. Anderson’s NBA career started after playing college basketball at Kentucky after transferring from Ohio State. In the 1997 season he gained entry in the NBA Draft, and was the 13th overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was a player who was already famous and this all resulted to an instant start for the Cavaliers scoring and making a point with every chance Anderson got turning most of them into shoots. He was fourth in the league with 89% from the line, and to top that off he was averaging four assists a game. All the shooting and proving himself in the NBA circuit he was named Shick All-Rookie Second team. While Derek was styling on the court he was also shining being one of only five other NBA players to represent the brand of Michael Jordan's shoe and clothing apparel.
In the 1999 season Anderson proved himself with the team and the Cavaliers found that they did not make a mistake taking him in the team. He further went to prove that he was the needle in a haystack that they had been looking for in the 1997 NBA draft and he proved all this with his increasing points and increasing fans with every passing game. Anderson’s scoring average was booming to it’s best and his defensive was looking fantastic leading his team in steals, but anyway all this did not keep him with Cavaliers. At the end of the season, the Cavailers had not made it to the playoffs, and the team was making some wholesale changes. They traded Anderson and he was sent off to play for the L.A Clippers. This all was a shock for the player but it didn't take long before he had taken charge. After the season with the Clippers ended he was back to making agreements. One of the agreements was that Clippers were going to trade Derek to the Portland TrailBlazers which did not work out so he chooses to take a 1 year contract with Tim Duncan and the San Antoino Spurs. Going to San Antonio was a big change for one reason. Not only did he get his shot at his first chance at the playoffs he was an NBA Champion. He won his first ring and this was no big surprise for the team as they were expecting this from him and this was a very major point for the Spurs. Without Derek heating it up from the top of the three point line Tim Duncan and David Robinson wouldn't beable to body the oppenents down low. Derek had no trouble with this fitting right in with the "Two Towers" offense. Anderson was honored with being at the top of his game, being in the best shape of his whole career which at the time was true. His next season was a major one and he played 82 games and in all these games he lead his team in steals and second in scoring with 17.8 points per game, and the most impressive was a career high 40.6% from three point range connecting on 342 of 402 attempts. Derek continued to show his magic to the Spur fans and helping the Spurs to have the best record in 2001. The Spurs had a bad finals as Derek was missing in the finals due to an injury and lose to the L.A Lakers four games to zero in the NBA finals. The team was  not able to re-sign Derek Anderson to a long term contract and so he signed a long term contract with the Portland TrailBlazers after losing him in 1999.