Euroleague.net interviews James Anderson 0

by Javier Gancedo, Euroleague.net

Zalgiris Kaunas is celebrating its 70th anniversary and its main focus is trying to make it a season to remember on the court, too. Zalgiris is 4-4 in Group A and would qualify to the Top 16 if it beats Unics Kazan on the road this week.

Its biggest addition has been small forward James Anderson, who has been in the center of the team’s ambitions since the beginning of the season. Anderson earned regular season Round 4 MVP honors, precisely against Unics, by scoring 28 points and pulling down 11 rebounds on his way to a performance index rating of 38.

Anderson now leads Zalgiris in scoring (16.5 ppg.) and steals (0.9 spg.), ranking second in rebounds (6 rpg.) and assists (2.3apg.). In other words, he has been all over the place while making sure Zalgiris gets a good chance to advance to the Top 16.

Anderson is not your average Turkish Airlines Euroleague debutante, as he had his mind set on a certain goal before he even set foot in Kaunas. “Who wouldn’t want to make it to the Top 16 and try to make a run in this tournament?” Anderson said. “It is a very personal challenge. One of the goals that I wanted to accomplish when I got here was making it to the Top 16 and take this team as far as I can in the Euroleague.”

Hello, James. Congratulations on a great season. It is not easy to arrive in the Euroleague and adjust right away but you did just that. What allowed you to do that?
“Thanks. I have been focusing on what I have to do. I worked on a lot of different stuff this summer, which I am putting it to use right now and trying to give my best every night. I worked on different aspects of my game, trying to become a better player. As for now, I have to keep working hard with my team in games and practices and go for it.”

This is a special season for Zalgiris, which celebrates its 70th anniversary. How does it feel to be a part of this?
“It is very special just to be here with this club. Everybody wants us to be in the Top 16 and the goal this year to get there and try to go even further. We still have two more games left in the regular season, one at home and one on the road, and we will try to get both wins. We will try to finish it out and see where we go from there.”

Your last win was against Nizhny Novgorod in Russia. Zalgiris was down by 17 points but rallied to win the game. How did you manage to change things in the second half?
“We focused on our defense. They had a really good first half and we kind of backed down. In the second half, our defense really showed up and everything went well. That was a great win and we tried to do the same against Efes, but it was a little too late. We struggled on offense against them. But against Nizhny, our defense took over the game.”

After eight games in the competition, what do you like the most about the Euroleague?
“I have to say the fans, most of all. The support they give their teams is unbelievable, I think, the energy that the crowd brings to their team. Every night, we get great support at home and this is why we try to win all of our home games, and it is what makes it even tougher to play on the road.”

Speaking of fans, Zalgiris has some of the best in Europe. How much of an impact can they have in a home game?
“They can have a great impact on a game. Like you said, they are some of the best, if not the best fans in Europe. I haven’t been to too many places but I mean, man, they are unbelievable! That’s why we try to get them involved in every game by making a run and at some point in the game, they will help us once when we get tired, just to feed off their energy.”

You know a lot of people who have never been to a Zalgiris home game, especially in the Euroleague. How would you explain the experience?
“Well, just to see so many people screaming to the top of their lungs to cheer you on is a great feeling. Every time we make a run, like the other day against Efes, the whole gym was rumbling! It was a crazy feeling. One of the most important things you have to do here is protect your home court, especially in the Euroleague, try to win as many games as we can at home and try to steal a couple on the road. If you do that, you should be in pretty good shape.”

Your next game is against Unics in Kazan. You beat Unics in Kaunas already. Is that game a reference or do you expect it to be completely different?
“It will be a very different game. I know they are playing great basketball lately and it is going to be a tough game for us. They play at home and are going to be really motivated. We both have four wins and pretty much, whoever gets this win will advance to the Top 16. We just want to go ahead and get it out of the way early – hopefully we can steal another one on the road.”

You have a very different role in Zalgiris than you had in your previous teams. How do you like this extended role, being the leader of your team?
“I am really embracing it. This is a different role than what I had in the NBA, but I like having more responsibilities. I was kind of in the same situation in college. I am just trying to get back to that way, try to lead the team anyway I can, doing anything that our coach asks me to do and setting a good example for our younger guys.”

You spent most of your career in Texas which, of course, it is very different from Kaunas. How are your teammates helping you adjust to this completely new situation?
“I think I adjusted pretty well. The first time I got here, I got lost a couple of times, even when it is not such a big place. My teammates welcomed me with open hearts, they always keep me engaged in conversations, in practice, in team meetings, since I am here by myself. The fans here always welcome me in, just walking around town and stuff like that. So far it has been great. I got to see Arvydas Sabonis, briefly, when we played against Unics in the old arena. I haven’t really had a chance to sit and talk with him yet.”

Like I said, this is not an ordinary season for Zalgiris. How important is it for you and your teammates to take Zalgiris into the Top 16?
“It is a personal challenge. Who wouldn’t want to make it to the Top 16 and try to make a run in this tournament? It is a very personal challenge. One of the goals that I wanted to accomplish when I got here was making it to the Top 16 and take this team as far as I can in the Euroleague.”