He’s had a very busy summer winning gold for Team England in
the 3×3 Basketball at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, before competing
at his first EuroBasket amongst NBA stars for Great Britain just a week ago, and
now Jamell Anderson is looking ahead to a return to the Cheshire Phoenix as the
new BBL campaign nears.
A fan favourite for the Phoenix when he first suited up for
the team in the 2016/17 season, Anderson will call Ellesmere Port Sports Village
home once again in the upcoming campaign, and we caught up with him to discuss
his return to the team.
“I had a sit down with the management and coach and we just
agreed on a lot of things both on the court and off the court. I believe seeing
eye to eye with your organisation is huge, so I look forward to building into
this season with them and I’m thankful they gave me the opportunity.
“My first stint at Cheshire was a tough year for all
involved. We couldn’t find our feet as players and a coaching staff, so it was
a learning season for me, testing my patience and character and I’m glad I went
through it. Even though that wasn’t the plan, there are always lessons to be
learnt.
“Since then I’ve matured on and off the court, and I’d like to think that I’m putting my experience into action on both ends of the floor. I also have much more of a voice within the group now and can help those with less experience deal with the highs and lows of basketball.”
“I’m glad to be on the court with someone like that!”
The acquisition of Anderson further boosts Cheshire’s
defensive prowess, as the Great Britain international lining up alongside Larry
Austin Jr. makes for one of the meanest pairings you’re likely to see on the
perimeter this season, and the Phoenix’s newest signing discussed how excited
he is to team up with his new point guard.
“I’ve been here three days and I already love everything
that Larry brings on the court. His intensity is contagious and I actually feed
off it. I’m glad to be on the court with someone like that and I really think
that the rest of the guys want to match our energy which is awesome! He’s one
heck of a player and even better person, so I’m thankful to share the court
with him.”
“We have lots of weapons on both ends of the floor …
we can be very good.”
Considered as underdogs by many throughout the BBL, the Phoenix
love to upset expectations and were at the heart of one of last season’s most
memorable moments as they battered the London Lions in the BBL Trophy Final to
take the title home from Glasgow with them.
Anderson was firm in discussing the expectations of the team
for the coming season, as he outlined what he sees as the qualities of his new
roster and what their aims could be for the new season.
“The only expectations that count are those of the players
and coaching staff who go into every season with the attitude to win every
game. You’re only as good as you think are and, from my pre-season meeting with
the club, they have high expectations and I look forward to meeting those
expectations with my attitude and effort.
“The most important thing is that we have a group of good
people. When they are asked to do something on or off the court they get on
with it, and that’s huge in building a successful team.
“With good people you can really be successful as everyone takes responsibility for their mistakes and move forward as unit. We win together and we lose together and it’s great to see. We have lots of weapons on both ends of the floor and I think, if we stay the course, we can be very good.”
The Cheshire Phoenix get their 2022/23 season underway with a trip to the Surrey Scorchers on Friday September 23, before welcoming the Plymouth City Patriots to EPSV on Sunday September 25 in a bumper opening weekend of action. Watch every game live and for free this season on the BBL YouTube channel!
