With
the 2009 NBA Summer League beginning this weekend, and the Spurs
playing their first game July 12, we here at Project Spurs will begin
to profile some players on the team. We’ll continue with Eric Dawson.
H: 6’6”
W: 214
Position: SG
Antonio Anderson had a nice career at Memphis, playing significant minutes all four years and helping the Tigers make the NCAA Championship two seasons ago. However, nice players don’t make NBA rosters too often. Anderson fits the mold of a player who will bounce around the D-League and foreign leagues for most of his career.
Positives: Anderson has good size for a shooting guard and displays above average athleticism. With those two characteristics combined, Anderson has potential to become a defensive stopper on the perimeter and usually guarded the opponents top player while at Memphis. He also shows good passing ability and decision making with a career A/TO ratio over 2, which is very good for a shooting guard.
Negatives: For a shooting guard he shoots rather poorly. He had his best shooting year at 45% last year but hovered around 40% for his first three years. He also showed no three point range and struggled at the free throw line, shooting 57% from there his junior year. At times he appears out of control with the ball, an effect of still learning how to use his athleticism. Really, the biggest drawback with Anderson is his inability to shoot the ball well.
Overall Outlook: The Spurs always like perimeter players who defend well but they have to possess an outside shoot. Think of Bruce Bowen. Anderson has a shot at sticking around with the Austin Toros since he has good size, athleticism and can play point guard at times with his decision making. However, I don’t see Anderson as an NBA player and he is probably better off going overseas and making a very respectable living there.
