SILive.com: O.D. Anosike leaves NBA Summer League with a strong last impression
On his way out of Orlando, O.D. Anosike made a statement and received a message.
Over the first four games of his NBA Summer League run with the Boston Celtics in Orlando, playing time had been sporadic for the former St. Peter’s star.
Anosike was a DNP in the opener and saw just a minute on the court two games later. In two other games the 2009 Jaques Award winner grabbed four rebounds without scoring while playing 16 and 20 minutes, respectively.
“As the week went on I played more and more,” said Anosike. “I got more and more comfortable. My confidence increased. I started to play better and better.”
The Celtics’ summer squad featured a pair of 7-footers in the starting lineup in 2013 draft picks Kelly Olynyk and Colton Iverson. Olynyk averaged 20 minutes in 70 games with the Celtics last season while Iverson was overseas in Turkey.
“That was the four and the five spot locked up,” said Anosike. “So it was tough in the front court to get substantial minutes.”
In his second time around at the NBA Summer League though – Anosike played in Las Vegas last year for the Denver Nuggets – the 6-foot-8 forward capitalized with a dynamic performance in the final game against the Indiana Pacers on July 11.
In 18 minutes Anosike shot six of seven from the field to finish with 13 points while grabbing 10 rebounds, the kind of double-double show he put on regularly while at Siena College.
“It was the last game,” said Anosike. “I wanted to leave a good lasting impression, not only on the Celtics but also on the other teams watching.”
While Boston assistant coach Jay Larranaga coached the squad that also included second-year Celtic guard Phil Pressey and 2014 first-round pick Marcus Smart, head coach Brad Stevens and team president Danny Ainge were on hand to see Anosike’s show.
Their message to Anosike was to keep doing what he does best: rebound that basketball. That’s what got him to Orlando in the first place after two years leading the NCAA at Siena and a standout season leading the league in Italy as a first-year pro.
After that dominant season that also included 14.4 points per game, Anosike has plenty of options to consider abroad and he’s leaning toward going back overseas for the upcoming season.
“I’m definitely a step closer to the NBA than I was last year,” said Anosike. “But right now for me I’m looking at a lot of really lucrative deals overseas that are interesting.”
UPDATE: Anosike has announced via his Twitter feed that he has signed with Sidigas Avellino of Italy’s Serie A League.
