By Stathis Trapezanlidis/ info@eurohoops.net
From the Philadelphia Sixers to Europe, Kaunas and Euroleague. However, before this for two season he was in San Antonio under the guidance of Greg Popovich, from where he obtained – according to his words – the most important experiences of his career until now. James Anderson came to Europe and adjusted immediately to his new environment. To those who didn’t know him he introduced himself immediately by being one of the stand outs of Euroleague’s regular season.
The American forward spoke to Eurohoops for his quick adaptation to Europe, his leading role in Zalgiris Kaunas, and shared with us his thoughts about his experience with the NBA champions, San Antonio Spurs and his impressions from his first season in Euroleague. Additionally, he reveals the “reason” that led him in one of the best individual game in Euroleague just in the fourth week of the competition against Unics kazan (with 27 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and 38 in the rating system).
It’s the first time after the years in college and the NBDL that you have a leading role in your team. Do you feel more comfortable now?
“I like my role. I adjust to the role. It is quite different from the one I had the last years in NBA. I like the challenge, I feel comfortable and it is ok for me”.
How amazing is it for you that you are in a country that lives for the basketball? Do you feel like a “local hero” in Kaunas?
“In Lithuania everybody knows who you are and the opportunities of the game. I mean it looks different and I can say that treat me very well in Kaunas”.
Which are the main reasons for your decision to sign with Zalgiris last summer? How easy is it for an American to leave NBA?
“After I checked my options in the NBA I decided to come here and try something different. See if I can play, find myself over here and go back comfortable playing what I can play. I found Zalgiris Kaunas, which is a good organization and I like playing for them.
Definitely, it is a difficult decision. For me the most difficult part is being away from my family , the most difficult test for anybody being away from family, my wife, my daughter. Everything else, food, life, living in Kaunas is pretty good. This is the only difficult point”.
What did you expect and what did you find in Europe on and off the court?
“Out of the court I could say that it is an experience for me visiting different countries and playing in different places. The arenas are quite different from the NBA. This is something i enjoy. On the court the staff is really good, the competition hard, I am really impressed with the different teams and the different style of play I found here. It makes me a better player at the same time so it was a good decision to come and play over here”..
At the beginning of the season you looked like you had no adaptation problems here.
“Zalgiris Kaunas is a very good organization and everyone in the club knows how to make you feel comfortable. As I said I like this experience”.
Would you take the chance to play in a top Euroleague team and win the competition or you prefer to return to NBA?
“I would like to go back to NBA but if there are not good options over there then definitely I would like to stay in Europe and play for a top Euroleague team”.
You played for San Antonio, Houston and and Philadelphia. With the Sixers you played a lot but the team was not as good as the others. So which team helped you most in your career?
“It is the Spurs, no question, because I started up there. I got drafted there. There is a great coach. For me to be a member of this team with this staff, with people from Hall of Fame and work with them was a big experience. The other two clubs i played were also good. I learnt something different, something by myself, something about my game. I say the Spurs first just because of the organization and the people there”.
In your opinion which are the main reasons you didn’t manage to stay in San Antonio?
“It is up to them. I can control only what i control. I always try to be as good as I can and improve myself as a player and as a person”.
The most difficult player you have played against? One from NBA and one from Europe
“Tough question. I will say Kobe from NBA… Ok Kobe and Lebron. Can I say two? (Laughs). It was in my rookie season. From Europe I could say Keith Langford, I played against him in first round. Pretty good scorer so he helped me to elevate my game and play well”.
How do you spend your time out of the court? Your hobbies?
“I watch a lot of movies, TV shows and of course talking with my family, this is my routine here”..