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Friday, June 27, 1997

Australian Anstey excited about NBA chances

By JAIME ARON / AP Sports Writer

DALLAS (AP) - Chris Anstey was exhausted. In one day, he was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers, traded to the Dallas Mavericks, held a news conference to discuss it, practiced for two hours and went to a friend's birthday party.

No wonder he missed his first phone call from his new bosses.

"I was dead asleep," Anstey said Thursday. "I didn't even hear the phone ring."

Oh well. Time-zone differences are just part of the package when a team hires someone from Australia.

Mavericks officials had it figured out enough by Thursday afternoon to arrange for media phone calls with their newest 7-footer. However, as of the early evening, Anstey had yet to speak with general manager Don Nelson or coach Jim Cleamons.

"Don Nelson rang me the morning before the draft to introduce himself and say 'Hi.' We didn't get into a long conversation," Anstey said. "I'm sure there will be plenty of time for that."

Nelson's brief conversation and a visit to Melbourne by Dallas scouting director Ron Ekker apparently were enough to sell the Mavericks on Anstey, a mobile big man will be asked to play all three frontcourt spots.

Dallas had other players ahead of him on its draft board, but when they were gone, he became their target.

Nelson, however, first made things interesting by picking Iowa State center Kelvin Cato for Portland with the 15th pick and having the Blazers take Anstey 18th. They then swapped players, with Portland throwing in an some cash.

Anstey was watching at a Melbourne television station, but he had no idea what was happening.

"I saw when Portland picked me, then five minutes later I got a call from my agent saying I'd been traded to Dallas," said Anstey, adding that the trade didn't bother him because going to Portland "hadn't sunk in yet."

Anstey grew up playing mostly tennis, then got hooked on basketball at age 17 when his brother's team was a player short and he filled in.

"I had fun and went back," he said. "With tennis, it was three to four months in between tournaments. Basketball had two to three games a week and that appealed to me a lot. The team environment appealed to me, too."

Two years later he joined the National Basketball League of Australia and was a minor player as his team reached the semifinals. He was voted the NBL's most improved player two years later when his team became league champions.

Melbourne is off to a 10-3 start this year, with Anstey shedding his bench role and becoming a starter after the top center tore knee ligaments three games ago.

Anstey has handled the extra work well, averaging 20 points and 14 rebounds in 45 minutes per game.

"I think I'm continually improving," he said. "Now that I'm playing a bit more, I'm getting a chance to use the things I've learned."

The NBL season lasts until October, but Ansty said he shouldn't have a problem getting out of his contract.

"I know the club here wants me to do what's best for me," Anstey said. "They don't want to jeopardize my career."

Anstey, the first Aussie drafted since Luc Longley in 1991, said he hopes the NBA begins looking to his homeland for more players.

"A lot of people think it's maybe an opportunity to open some eyes about a lot of other younger players here," he said. "We feel there are at least a handful of others who can make it."

The Mavericks are only worried about one of them making it. That is, if they ever reach him. Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
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