Veteran milestone journey to savour
IT’S taken two decades for Australian basketball stalwart David Andersen to clock up 50 NBL games but the Melbourne United veteran wouldn’t change anything.
He has lived in seven countries, 10 cities and learned six languages from “a little bit” to “fluent” since his 1998 NBL debut for Wollongong Hawks.
He signed for three years but played one before top Italian side Kinder Bologna signed the Frankston junior.
It was the launching pad for a career spanning 17 seasons abroad, including three at NBA franchises Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors and New Orleans Hornets.
“If you told me when I was 13 you’re going to do this, this, this I would have laughed at you and said, ‘You’re crazy’,” Andersen said. “I didn’t think I’d be a pro, I didn’t think I’d do anything like that.”
Andersen, 37, returned to the NBL last year and despite being the league’s oldest player has no plans to retire.
“I’ve had lots of highs, lows, injuries, disappointments, big wins, big celebra- tions, played in various countries, learned various languages, met so many different people, it’s been a journey and a half,” said Andersen, who suits up for United tonight against Cairns at Hisense Arena.
“I’m very blessed to be able to do it and shown a bit of resilience to be able to play in various parts of the world ... I want to keep on playing.”
Andersen has played every game this season including Melbourne United’s pre-season clash with Oklahoma City Thunder, averaging 18 minutes, six points and four assists. His resume includes about 700 club games, 180 with Australian teams, 11 championships, most-valuable-player awards and four Olympics.
“The beauty of basketball is you get to travel the world and experience different cultures,” he said.
“Like anything good, the good things in life seem like they go way too quick.”
THE BEAUTY OF BASKETBALL IS YOU GET TO TRAVEL THE WORLD AND EXPERIENCE DIFFERENT CULTURES
DAVID ANDERSEN