“I’m excited, I’m reflecting on my life, there were a lot of obstacles people don’t know about,” Kenny Anderson said during a recent phone interview from his current home base in Florida.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
A Queens, New York native, Anderson took time from the shooting schedule of the documentary ‘Mr. Chibbs’-first written about by this reporter for YellowJackedUp.com on May 26 ,to talk about the film and what he believes will be the overall mission he, the film’s executive producers Skyscraper Productions, and the film’s writer and director Jill Campbell will be attempting to display to the public.
“It’s going to be deep, it’s going to hit on some real personal issues,” said Anderson.
“When I sat down and thought about telling my story I told myself I had to be real raw and real truthful. It might help some of the kids out there if I did”, he continued.
Anderson’s voice came across as excited about the documentary despite the potential for what he called “everything” being discussed in it.
The film is in late filming stages and early production stages but looks to be touching on all-things Kenny Anderson the man more than Kenny Anderson the point guard prodigy from New York.
1989-90; Unknown location, USA; FILE PHOTO; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets guard Kenny Anderson (12) in action during the 1989-90 season. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
“This documentary is about my life not just my basketball life, my actual life.”
I mentioned to Anderson mid-interview that there are still basketball arenas and courts all over the city of Atlanta where his name stills holds as much weight as the Lebron James’ and Kevin Durant’s of the world.
He didn’t hesitate to agree with the sentiment while recognizing that he did a lot of growing up in Atlanta so the love is coming from a familiar place.
“I really grew up in Atlanta, said Anderson, I came there as an 18-year-old kid and had some good moments there. I have a lot of love for that city.” He even pointed out that the ATL would be a prime retirement spot for him and his family, “when I’m like 55-60 years old.”
In every man’s life there are moments we would like to take back, mistakes we’ve made that we hope none of our family and friends ever find out.
That is probably why the average person, male or female, doesn’t have a documentary made of his or her life.
The way he tells it he has prospered from getting everything off of his chest, the film, ‘Mr. Chibbs’, being his own personal version of ‘Mr. Holland’s Opus’. He had to eventually allow his wife, Natasha, into his past deeds and misdeeds, respectively.
“ have been together for 11-years but have been married for eight, I had to open up to her and then she realized what was going on with me,” said Anderson. I was forced to open up because I didn’t want to lose her.
Anderson admits that he spent time with a therapist at one point, “like twice a week”, and now realizes that even with the many ups and downs that will be on display throughout the documentary he was in a much better position than most.
“My mother always told me that there are a million people out there that would love my worst day,” Anderson told me while reflecting on the many lessons his mother passed on to him while growing up and later as a man.
Ms. Joan Anderson passed away in 2003 and is featured prominently in her son’s demeanor. He mentioned her numerous times during the interview and his smile could be felt through the phone from Florida to Atlanta where this reporter was located.
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With filming winding down and set to close in June, Anderson is set to start a summer basketball camp circuit with the Atlanta area being his first stop. In association with The Suwanee Basketball Academy, the Kenny Anderson Basketball Camp will be running from June 15-18.
“It will be my first camp in Atlanta and I’m excited.”
With his career totals of over 10,000 points and 5,000 assist to go along with a lifetime worth of lessons learned and a documentary in the works, Mr. Anderson will have plenty for all of us to learn.