Kyle Anderson is an American-Chinese professional basketball power forward/small forward for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Nicknamed "Slow Mo," Anderson was born on September 20, 1993, in New York, U.S. He attended Paterson Catholic High School and compiled a 119–6 record over four years during his high school career. He played for the UCLA Bruins and was named an All-American in his sophomore season.
The San Antonio Spurs selected Anderson in the 2014 NBA Draft with the 30th overall pick. He made his NBA debut for them four games into the season, playing in a 98–81 loss to the Houston Rockets. He had numerous assignments during his rookie season, primarily with the Austin Spurs of the NBA Development League. He played with the Spurs in the 2015 and 2016 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas during the offseasons. He was named the league MVP in 2015 after averaging 21.0 points and 6.0 rebounds in 27.3 minutes and was named the league's MVP.
Anderson became a regular part of the San Antonio Spurs's rotation during the 2015–16 season, appearing in 78 games while averaging 16 minutes. He became a starter in 2017-2018 after Kawahi Leonard was ruled out for an extended period with a quadriceps injury. He made 67 starts that season, averaging career highs in points (7.9), rebounds (5.4), assists (2.7), steals (1.6), blocks (0.8) and field goal percentage (52.7).
Anderson joined the Memphis Grizzlies after the 2017–18 season, in a deal worth $37.2 million. He averaged 7.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game in his last seasons with them (2021-22).
He then signed for the Minnesota Timberwolves on July 8, 2022. In a rather successful first season in Minnesota, Anderson averaged 9.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game.
Kyle Anderson Ethnicity
Anderson is an American-Chinese national and is partly of Chinese descent. He was born in New York City, New York, U.S., to parents Kyle Anderson Sr. and Suzanne Anderson. His Chinese roots stem from his maternal grandmother who had a Chinese father, which technically makes Anderson one-eighth Chinese. He, however, became a Chinese national only in July 2023, just in time to represent the Chinese team at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Kyle Anderson Early Life
Born and brought up in New York City, Anderson spent his childhood between New Jersey in North Bergen and Fairview. His father, Kyle Anderson Sr., was also a basketball player and a longtime high school coach in New Jersey. Anderson attended Paterson Catholic High School. The school closed two years after his joining, so he moved to St. Anthony High School. He compiled a 119–6 record as a four-year starter in high school. He was ranked the No. 1 small forward by Rivals.com, and No. 2 by ESPN.com and Scout.com among 2012 recruits.
Kyle Anderson International Career
Internationally, Anderson has represented both the American and Chinese national teams. He was an active participant in the U16 and U17 training camps for USA Basketball. He was even named to the 2009–10 USA Basketball Men's Developmental National Team. He competed in the Nike Hoop Summit for the USA Basketball Junior National Select Team in 2012.
Anderson and the Chinese Basketball Association announced on July 24, 2023, that he had obtained Chinese citizenship in advance of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. His addition to the national team roster is considered a huge advantage.
FAQs
A. Kyle Anderson is an American-Chinese national and holds dual citizenship.
A. Kyle Anderson was born in New York City, New York, U.S., on September 20, 1993.
A. Kyle Anderson Sr. and Suzanne Anderson are the proud parents of Kyle Anderson.
A. Kyle Anderson currently plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
A. Kyle Anderson went to Paterson Catholic High School and St. Anthony High School.
