Michael Anderson (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Michael Levin Anderson (born March 23, 1966 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
) is a former basketball
player for Drexel University
, the NBA, Spain's professional Liga ACB, the Continental Basketball Association
, the Greek A1 League
and the Turkish Basketball League
.
Anderson was a high school star at George Washington Carver High School of Engineering & Science
in Philadelphia. At Drexel, he averaged over 19 points per game during his college career, and led the Dragons to their first-ever NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship appearance in 1986, where they lost to eventual national champion, Louisville. This game was notable because Anderson was playing against familiar local foes, Milt Wagner
and Billy Thompson
who played high school ball on Camden's nationally ranked team. That year Anderson was named to the UPI and Sporting News honorable mention All-America teams. Anderson also led the Dragons to an upset of a David Robinson
-led Navy team in the Palestra
in 1987, one of the biggest wins in school history.
Anderson would become the first Drexel basketball player to make the roster of an NBA team. He played for the San Antonio Spurs
during the 1989 NBA season
, after being drafted by the Indiana Pacers
in the 3rd round (23rd pick) of the 1988 NBA Draft.
Anderson had a successful four year career in the Spanish ACB league, playing from 1992 to 1997. He played for Real Madrid
, Baloncesto León
, CB Murcia
and Caja San Fernando, garnering league MVP honors in the 1995-1996 season while playing for the latter. He was also a 1993 ACB league All-Star.http://www.acb.com/jugador.php?id=AS1 After that, he played for Ülkerspor
in Turkey
during the 1996-97 Turkish Basketball League
season, winning the championship cup while averaging 21.1 points per game. Anderson also played a couple years in the USBL and the CBA, making the All-Rookie team in 1988-1989 with the Charleston Gunners, and making first team All-League with the Tri-City Chinook in 1993-94.http://www.acb.com/jugador.php?id=AS1
Anderson is in the top ten all-time in career NCAA steals with 341 and tied for first all-time in career triple doubles. He was recognized in 2008 by the Colonial Athletic Association
as a CAA Men's Basketball Legend, in a class that included University of Maryland and James Madison University coach Charles “Lefty” Driesell
. http://www.caasports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?PRINTABLE_PAGE=YES&ATCLID=1405040&DB_OEM_ID=8500
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
) is a former basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player for Drexel University
Drexel University
Drexel University is a private research university with the main campus located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a noted financier and philanthropist. Drexel offers 70 full-time undergraduate programs and accelerated degrees...
, the NBA, Spain's professional Liga ACB, the Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
, the Greek A1 League
A1 Ethniki
The Greek Basket League , commonly referred to as the Greek Basketball League or Greek Basketball Championship, is the highest professional basketball league in Greece. It is run by HEBA...
and the Turkish Basketball League
Turkish Basketball League
The Turkish Basketball League is the top men’s professional basketball league in Turkey, which is also called Turkish Premier Basketball League . There is also a Turkish Second Basketball League consisting of 2 divisions .-History:The first basketball game played in Turkey was at the Robert...
.
Anderson was a high school star at George Washington Carver High School of Engineering & Science
Carver High School (Philadelphia)
George Washington Carver High School of Engineering and Science is a secondary school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.-Description:...
in Philadelphia. At Drexel, he averaged over 19 points per game during his college career, and led the Dragons to their first-ever NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship appearance in 1986, where they lost to eventual national champion, Louisville. This game was notable because Anderson was playing against familiar local foes, Milt Wagner
Milt Wagner
Milton "Milt" Wagner is a retired American basketball player in the NBA.Wagner played high school basketball at Camden High School....
and Billy Thompson
Billy Thompson (basketball)
William Stansbury Thompson is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA...
who played high school ball on Camden's nationally ranked team. That year Anderson was named to the UPI and Sporting News honorable mention All-America teams. Anderson also led the Dragons to an upset of a David Robinson
David Robinson (basketball)
David Maurice Robinson is a retired American NBA basketball player, who played center for the San Antonio Spurs for his entire NBA career. Based on his prior service as an officer in the United States Navy, Robinson earned the nickname "The Admiral". He and teammate power forward Tim Duncan were...
-led Navy team in the Palestra
Palestra
The Palestra, also known as the Cathedral of College Basketball, is a historic arena and the home gym of the University of Pennsylvania Quakers men's and women's basketball teams, volleyball teams, wrestling team, and Philadelphia Big 5 basketball. Located at 215 South 33rd St...
in 1987, one of the biggest wins in school history.
Anderson would become the first Drexel basketball player to make the roster of an NBA team. He played for the San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
during the 1989 NBA season
1988-89 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers*Rookie of the Year: Mitch Richmond, Golden State Warriors*Defensive Player of the Year: Mark Eaton, Utah Jazz...
, after being drafted by the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
in the 3rd round (23rd pick) of the 1988 NBA Draft.
Anderson had a successful four year career in the Spanish ACB league, playing from 1992 to 1997. He played for Real Madrid
Real Madrid Baloncesto
Real Madrid Baloncesto is a Spanish professional basketball team founded in 1932 as a division of the Real Madrid club. They play in the Asociación de Clubes de Baloncesto ....
, Baloncesto León
Baloncesto León
Club Baloncesto León is a basketball team, based in León, Spain. It plays in the basketball Second division, the LEB.-Roster:-Early years :...
, CB Murcia
CB Murcia
Club Baloncesto Murcia, S.A.D., also known as UCAM Murcia by sponsorship reasons, is a professional basketball team based in Murcia, Region of Murcia, Spain. The team plays in ACB...
and Caja San Fernando, garnering league MVP honors in the 1995-1996 season while playing for the latter. He was also a 1993 ACB league All-Star.http://www.acb.com/jugador.php?id=AS1 After that, he played for Ülkerspor
Ülkerspor
-History:Ülkerspor had been founded in 1975 but its basketball department was created in 1993 by buying a Turkish League spot from Nasaşspor. It won Turkish League titles in 1995, 1998, 2001 and 2006 with greats including Harun Erdenay, İbrahim Kutluay, Michael Anderson, Orhun Ene, Kevin Rankin and...
in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
during the 1996-97 Turkish Basketball League
Turkish Basketball League
The Turkish Basketball League is the top men’s professional basketball league in Turkey, which is also called Turkish Premier Basketball League . There is also a Turkish Second Basketball League consisting of 2 divisions .-History:The first basketball game played in Turkey was at the Robert...
season, winning the championship cup while averaging 21.1 points per game. Anderson also played a couple years in the USBL and the CBA, making the All-Rookie team in 1988-1989 with the Charleston Gunners, and making first team All-League with the Tri-City Chinook in 1993-94.http://www.acb.com/jugador.php?id=AS1
Anderson is in the top ten all-time in career NCAA steals with 341 and tied for first all-time in career triple doubles. He was recognized in 2008 by the Colonial Athletic Association
Colonial Athletic Association
The Colonial Athletic Association is a NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose full-time members are located in East Coast states from Massachusetts to Georgia. Most of its members are public universities, with five in Virginia alone, and the conference is headquartered in Richmond,...
as a CAA Men's Basketball Legend, in a class that included University of Maryland and James Madison University coach Charles “Lefty” Driesell
Lefty Driesell
Charles Grice "Lefty" Driesell is an American former college basketball coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Maryland, Davidson College, James Madison University, and Georgia State University. During his 41-year coaching career, Driesell led teams from each school to the NCAA...
. http://www.caasports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?PRINTABLE_PAGE=YES&ATCLID=1405040&DB_OEM_ID=8500
See also
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career free throw scoring leaders
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career steals leaders