ANDERSON GAME FOR MORE

Jamell Anderson wants a dose of double duty.

In Birmingham this week for the 2022 Commonwealth Games’ Two Years To Go event, he already has the luxury of a new deal penned with the Leicester Riders.

But he remains keen to establish his credentials as a 3×3 player because if the full five-man game is not going to be in Birmingham in two years’ time as it was in the Gold Coast in 2018 when he was part of England’s squad, why should he not get a chance to play the half-court version?

“That would be an amazing experience – to represent my country – in my country in such an exciting version of basketball,” revealing he has history with the 3×3 version that is set to make its Olympic debut in Tokyo and has also featured in three Youth Olympics already.

“I actually played in the first FIBA 3×3 international tournament there was – that was in Greece in 2012,” says Anderson. “So I feel like I was there at the beginning of this whole thing.”

Nowadays he has to pass up the chance of playing 3×3 because his career with the Riders and as a member of Great Britain’s extended squad has to come first. “It’s my job, so I figured it’s probably too risky to be playing outside in the summer, getting hurt, but there has been a lot of entertainment with the FIBA 3v3 stuff too that I’ve been able to watch.”

Anderson has used programmes sent by Riders strength and conditioning coach Jordan Godfrey as well as yoga to keep himself mobile and in readiness for when the BBL season restarts. “With the guidelines easing up we’re able to get back on the court in group sessions of six now,” reports Anderson. “Over the next couple of weeks we’ll be returning to normality, I’m confident of that.”

You get the impression he fancies a second shot at the Commonwealths if the chance comes along. “Personally I think I’d be very good for this tournament, I work both ends of the floor in terms of offence and defence, I can guard multiple positions, so I do think my versatility could be used, but I’m not in charge of who plays. Otherwise, I’d pick myself!”

Anderson’s surprise marriage proposal to Manchester Mystics, England and GB star guard Georgia Jones was arguably the feelgood moment of the Gold Coast Games in 2018, when Georgia’s women’s team reached the final of the basketball tournament. How do they top that?

“I guess it would be to get married at the Games here,” says Anderson. “Maybe set up some sort of chapel at half court and then tie the knot.”