Jacqui Cooper
 
Chris Anstey
 
Petria Thomas
 
Adam Thompson
 
Linley Frame
 
Daniel Kowalski
 
   
Chris Anstey
 

Chris announced his retirement from basketball after 5 years as co-captain of the Melbourne Tigers in the National Basketball League. In those years since his return from overseas, the Tigers won two championships and wer runner up twice.

Chris was recognised as the best player in the NBL. He was voted the Most Valuable Player in the NBL in 2006 and 2008, and was named in the NBL All Star 5 in 2006, 22007, 2008 and 2009.

Chris began his basketball life with the Melbourne Tigers in a junior U18 team, and progressed rapidly until he was noticed by Lindsay Gaze and was ultimately selected in the Melbourne Tigers NBL team in 1994.

In 1995, Chris transferred to the South East Melbourne Magic where he believed the strong work ethic and training techniques that coach Brian Goorjian taught would best assist his further development. Coach Goorjian said of Anstey “ For his size, he has tremendous quickness, foot speed and balance.

He got that base from playing tennis. When he switched to basketball, those things stayed and gave him something unique in his position.” Develop he did, being voted the “Most Improved Player” in the NBL in 1996, in addition to being an integral member of the NBL Championship team (South East Melbourne Magic). He was also voted the MVP in the Future Forces Game during the 1996 All Stars weekend. Playing in the winning Australian U23 World Championship team in 1997 – the first Australian basketball team ever to win a World Championship, Chris was voted the MVP for the Series. On June 25th 1997, Chris became the first Australian NBL player ever selected in the NBA draft. He was #18 pick – selected by the Dallas Mavericks. He played 2 seasons with the Dallas Mavericks before gaining a transfer to the famous Chicago Bulls.

Chris had an excellent season with his new Club, and fitted in extremely well.. Selected in the Boomers squad for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Chris had to chose between returning to the Bulls and playing the summer season as their management required (which meant not playing for Australia in the Olympics) or risk not getting a contract for the following year. He chose to stay in Australia forfeiting any chance of returning to the Chicago Bulls. The Australian Boomers team finished fourth in the Sydney Olympics. Once having played to home stadiums again, and despite overseas opportunities, Chris preferred to stay in Melbourne and to play for the Victorian Titans, again under the direction of Brian Goorjian. In 2002/2003, Chris was recruited by Russian Team, Ural Great, and played in the European Uleb Cup Competition. He enjoyed an extremely successful year on the Court winning the Most Valuable Player in the Competition.

Chris was also named in the Russian All Star 5 for his performances. In 2003/2004 and 2004/2005, Chris again played in Russia for Unics Kazan. This proved to be even a more successful season with the team winning the FIBA Cup. This is one of the strongest competitions in Europe. Personally, Chris was named in the FIBA Cup All Star team for his outstanding performances in both seasons.
 
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• Co-captain of Melbourne Tigers Championship team in 2006 and 2008

• Most Valuable Player in NBL in 2006 and 2008

• Most Valuable Player in Grand Final Series 2006 and 2008

• Named in NBL all-star 5 in 2006. 2007, 2008, 2009

• Named in the FIBA Cup All Star Team in 2004 and 2005

• Member of Unics Kazan championship team in 2004

• Named in the ULEB Cup All Star Team in 2003

• Represented Australia at the Sydney 2000 Olympics and Beijing 2008 Olympics

• By the end of his first season in the NBA, Chris had been promoted to the starting five for the Dallas Mavericks

• Scored 26 points against the Boston Celtics - the highest ever score by an Australian in the NBA

• Chris was the first Australian drafted from the NBL to the NBA in America in 1997 when he was selected by the Dallas Mavericks with the 18th pick.

• Member of winning 1997 Australian under 23 World Championship team - the first Australian basketball team to win a World Championship.

• Voted Most Valuable in the 1997 Under 23 World Championships Series.

• Member of the 1996 South East Melbourne Magic NBL championship team.

• Voted the most improved player in the NBL in 1996.

• Member of the Australian senior basketball squad (The Boomers).

• Voted Most Valuable Player in Future Forces Game during 1996 All Stars weekend.

• Won 4 successive under age Victorian doubles tennis titles with Dustin Fletcher (Essendon AFL footballer).
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