From All-Star to Jewish Day School basketball coach.
Welcome to the life of former NBA guard Kenny Anderson, who beginning his coaching career at David Posnack Jewish Day School in a suburb of Fort Lauderdale.
Anderson played in front of huge crowds as he led Georgia Tech to the 1990 Final Four, yet his home coaching debut drew a slightly smaller crowd of 56 fans. Anderson, 41, was New York City playground legend but now he's looking for a fresh start.
He's got a great attitude -- that's for sure.
"I just want to be a coach," Anderson told Fox Sports Florida. "I got to start somewhere. There's only upside. I guess it's a great story because it's a small school, and going back is humbling. But I'm going to work my butt off and try to do the best I can with these kids. We'll see what happens."
The school is in Davie, Florida, not far from the Miami Dolphins training facility. It only has about 150 students, in grades 9 through 12. The David Posnack Jewish Day School motto is sending "100 percent" of enrollees to college.
Anderson was up for assistant coaching jobs at the University of Miami and Florida Atlantic but was passed over each time.
"I was surprised. ... It's a good, old boy networking system, which is understandable," Anderson said of others getting jobs as assistants. "(College coaches) got a lot of people that they're loyal to, that they got to help and I'm just one of those guys on the line. I just got to do what Kenny Anderson feels is best and maybe pay my dues."
The former guard, who played for the Nets and Celtics along with six other teams, was contacted via Twitter for the prep opening.
Although Anderson made more than $63 million during his 14 pro basketball seasons, he's pretty much working for free. The school give him just a small stipend. That's significant considering Anderson declared bankruptcy in 2005.
"I'm not like I used to be, but I'm comfortable," Anderson said. "I took care of my family. I was generous. So that's just how I was."
Although Anderson briefly coached in the now-defunct Continental Basketball Association with the 2007 Atlanta Krunk, he's still adjusting to life at the Jewish Day School.
"A guy missed practice because he had an acting class," Anderson said. "I didn't know what to say."
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Kenny Anderson was a true legend coming into the NBA. |
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