Right after he signed his $46.7 million contract with the Portland Trail Blazers last summer, Kenny Anderson got a tattoo. On his right bicep, above a rose and a cross, are the words, "I'm blessed."
For the slick left-handed point guard from Georgia Tech, the move from New Jersey to Portland has replaced grumpiness with gratitude, pressure with a sense of peace.
Three-quarters through his first season as the floor leader of a talented but unpredictable young team, Anderson is playing the best basketball of his career, and loving it.
"I'm playing the game I love to play. I can take care of my family," he said. "No one can say anything wrong to me to alter my attitude. That's the kind of attitude I'm going to have with the rest of my life because I'm happy doing what I'm doing."
Anderson is averaging 18.4 points, 7.1 assists, 2.3 turnovers and 4.5 rebounds a game. He's played in all 63 games and started 62, averaging a team-high 38 minutes.
Most impressive has been his 3-point shooting. He's at a career-high .385 clip (112for-291). And while no one will ever mistake him for Gary Payton, his defense has not been noticeably worse than that of his predecessor, Rod Strickland.
Strickland demanded out of Portland, and away from the coach he despised, P.J. Carlesimo. Anderson said he couldn't be happier. Sure, Carlesimo's criticism and intense style can be annoying. But Anderson said he won't let anyone get under his skin anymore.
were gonna be the answer to Shaq.
