Anderson to quit the Riders
FORWARD SETTING UP HOME WITH NEW WIFE IN MANCHESTER
POPULAR forward Jamell Anderson will not be returning to the Leicester Riders next season.
Anderson, who was named in the BBL’s 2021 Defensive Team of the Year, has spent eight seasons with Riders since 2011.
Anderson married his fiancee, Georgia Jones, a week ago after the pair famously got engaged at the Commonwealth Games in Australia in 2018 live on BBC TV.
Jones is also an England basketball international who plays for Manchester Met Mystics in the WBBL.
She previously played for Riders in the WBBL, and the couple will be setting up home in Manchester.
Nottingham-born Anderson made his Leicester debut in the 2011/12 season.
After a two-season spell away, which included playing with Cheshire, and in Spain and Australia, Anderson re-signed for Leicester in 2018.
The 30-year-old forward is one of the most talented defensive players in the BBL, able to guard all positions, and he showed that again this season, marking the most prolific scorers in the BBL.
Anderson said he was sad to see his time with the BBL champions come to an end.
“My time at the Riders has been so eventful, I’ve played alongside some of the best players to play in the BBL in the last ten years,” he said.
“The likes of Geno Crandall is an example last season.
“Not only have so many of these guys been team-mates but they have become friends.”
“The respect I hold for guys like Anthony Rowe and Barry Lamble for their kindness and friendship as I was getting settled into my professional career with the Riders
is something I’ll never forget.
“The list goes on for high-level players that I’ve been fortunate to compete with and coach Rob (Paternostro) has so much if not everything to do with attracting that talent.
“He’s a straight up coach and always wants to create a team not only of talent but of good people and I owe him a lot for that.
“I’ve been there through tough times and thankfully more so through successful times, it’s been an honour to play alongside so many good people but also to achieve so much. Each year I asked more of myself and whether that was reflected in my stats or what everyone thought of me as a player or a person I was always striving to improve.
“I’m thankful for the environment I was given to grow both on and off the floor.”
Anderson played 237 league games for the Riders scoring 1,462 points, placing him sixth on the all-time list for Riders’ statistics.
“First of all, I’ll miss the people,” he added.
“I made some truly great friendships from players to staff to fans and even to the people of Leicester.
“I remember being recognised for the first time back in 2011/12 as a Riders player and people saying they loved our team and it felt great to be a part of that. I’ve always tried my best to represent the club with professionalism and hard work.
“When I look back at the success I’ve been part of, and the friendships I’ve made, it’s definitely a major part of my life and career, which if I had the chance I’d definitely lace em up with those boys again.”
Paying tribute to Anderson, head coach Paternostro said: “It’s sad to see him go. Jamell has been the ultimate professional.
“His work ethic and commitment to the team have been second to none.
“Jamell has been a fantastic guy to be around, a player that consistently put the work in to improve and a player that can call himself a champion.