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On the basketball court, Kenny Anderson was known for astounding cat-quick moves that would take him from a sea of bigger defenders in the paint to two points in the blink of an eye.
And in many ways, his personal story of beating financial ruin to graduate from college this Saturday - more than 20 years removed from his glory days on the basketball court - is no less remarkable.
Anderson, 39, holds a special place in the hearts of New York City–area basketball fans not only for his on-court skills, but also for how his personal life skidded out of control so quickly.
Few basketball players took the professional stage with as much going for them as Kenny Anderson. A Queens, N.Y., playground legend known for his ball handling and scoring wizardry, Anderson went to Georgia Tech before being drafted by the New Jersey Nets as the second player overall in 1991.
Anderson should have revived the moribund franchise to a few Eastern Conference championships, maybe even an NBA title, while becoming a perennial all-star and hero to fans across the world.
Instead, Anderson's career never really took off. He made one all-star team in 1994, but for a player for whom so much was expected, his career was just a little better than a dud.
Then Anderson's personal life took a turn for the worse.
Anderson ran through more than $63 million, which he earned in salary. He bought lots of cars and even gave some away to friends and family. He also lost a huge chunk of his fortune when his wife, a reality TV star, divorced him for infidelity, even though she had signed a $5.8-million prenuptial agreement.
The father of seven children (with five different women) paid out support payments more frequently than assists on the basketball court toward the end of his career.
And while Anderson filed for bankruptcy in 2005, the toughness he showed on the court in his early days came through in his personal life, when he enrolled in college for Organizational Leadership.
Now with his graduation coming up from St. Thomas University in Miami, Anderson - 19 years after leaving Georgia Tech - can begin to remake himself and bring back some of the sense of accomplishment he found in his youth on the basketball court.
Comments: (9)
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By: carla ford on 5/14/2010 11:36AM
Good for him!
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By: meanvee on 5/14/2010 3:35PM
Great to see the brother back on the right track, never knew what happened to kenny anderson, sure did not know he went broke.
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By: Pat Griffin on 5/15/2010 9:09PM
Kenny, I knew you from Lefrak City, also knew your mother Joan. Good luck and God bless.
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By: Chicago Putting Greens on 5/15/2010 10:37AM
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By: RODSAN2000 on 5/15/2010 11:03AM
Ok, I want to see the comment area full of long multiple paragraph comments. You know, like we do when responding to some of the negative (ignorant) stories that get captured on BV. This is a GREAT story. If you are over 35 and a bball fan you remember the wizardry of Kenny Anderson. This is an inspiring story. Share it on your facebook, twitter, let your kids read it. Everyone has someone in their life that could benefit from seeing this article. Come on BV readers! Sound off.
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By: Mack Nutter on 5/15/2010 4:37PM
Good for you Kenny....I recall many years ago when I subscribed to Sports Illustrated reading an article about future stars. Kenny was about 15 and it also included Alonzo Mourning and the kid from Indiana Damon Bailey. Little did we know that these kids would really grow into what they did. BTw has anyone seen Damon lately? Good luck in all your future endeavors my man....maybe the NBA will hire you to help some of those young men that like you were not prepared for life after B-ball.
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By: charles on 5/15/2010 4:52PM
Of course I'm wondering what buisiness college did those women attend cause they made out like bandits.
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By: Will on 5/15/2010 7:09PM
@ Charles....and I'm wondering why the writer thought it was necessary to let us know that his seven children had five moms. As long as he supported them, wtf? Don't get me wrong, I think that having kids by three and four different men is disguting. I also feel that fathering a lot of children with a lot of women is disgusting as well, but like I said,"at least he supported them."
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By: charles on 5/15/2010 8:33PM
I'm thinking the writer was thinking somebody would wonder what did he do with all his money.Can you imagine how the sister who didnt get pregnant feels ,like she threw away a winning lotto ticket. 7 kids with 5 women dang you'd think he would got an vesectomy after the 3rd kids while he still hed money. babies are exspensive.
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