Bennett's Basketball Journey: A Rising Star's Story

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Anthony Bennett is a Canadian professional basketball player who last played for the Formosa Dreamers of the Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL). He was born on March 14, 1993, in Toronto, Ontario, and raised in the city's Jane and Finch neighbourhood. Bennett attended Harold M. Brathwaite Secondary School in Brampton and played college basketball for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) before being drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers as the first overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft. He has since played for several other teams, including the Phoenix Suns, the Northern Arizona Suns, and the Kaohsiung Steelers of the Taiwanese P. League+. Bennett has also represented Canada in international competitions, winning bronze medals at the 2009 FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship and 2010 FIBA Under-17 World Championship.

Characteristics Values
Full Name Anthony Harris Bennett
Date of Birth March 14, 1993
Age 32 years
Height 6'7" (203 cm)
Weight 245 lbs (111 kg)
Position Power Forward
College University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV)
NBA Draft 2013, 1st overall pick by Cleveland Cavaliers
NBA Teams Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix Suns
NBA G League Teams Northern Arizona Suns, Maine Red Claws
International Teams Fenerbahçe (Turkey), Hapoel Jerusalem (Israel), Kaohsiung Steelers (Taiwan), Hsinchu JKO Lioneers (Taiwan), Goyang Sono Skygunners (South Korea)
National Team Canada
Career Highlights 2017 EuroLeague champion with Fenerbahçe, 2015 Pan American Games silver medalist with Canada

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Anthony Bennett's career

Anthony Harris Bennett is a Canadian professional basketball player born on March 14, 1993, in Toronto, Ontario. Bennett attended Harold M. Brathwaite Secondary School in Brampton and played basketball for Mountain State Academy in West Virginia at age 16. A year later, he moved to Henderson, Nevada, to play for the basketball academy Findlay Prep. During the 2012-13 season, Bennett played 35 games for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Runnin' Rebels, averaging 16.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.

In 2013, Bennett was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers, becoming the first Canadian to be drafted number one overall in the NBA. However, his NBA career lasted only four seasons, during which he averaged 4.4 points and played for the Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Toronto Raptors. After his rookie contract with the Cavaliers, Bennett signed with the Timberwolves on September 23, 2014. He played 57 games for the Timberwolves before being waived via a contract buyout on September 23, 2015. He then returned to his hometown and signed with the Toronto Raptors on September 28, 2015.

On July 14, 2016, Bennett signed a two-year, $2.1 million contract with the Brooklyn Nets. He played 28 games for the Nets, averaging 5.0 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. On January 9, 2017, he was waived by the Nets and subsequently signed with Fenerbahçe of the Turkish Basketball Super League. In 10 EuroLeague games with Fenerbahçe, he averaged 1.2 points per game, winning the EuroLeague title in 2017.

Bennett then signed with the Phoenix Suns on September 22, 2017, but his stint was short-lived as he was waived on October 11. He later joined the Northern Arizona Suns of the NBA G League and was traded to the Maine Red Claws on December 28, 2017. On August 25, 2021, Bennett signed with Hapoel Jerusalem of the Israeli Basketball Premier League, and in 2022, he joined the Kaohsiung Steelers of the Taiwanese P. League+. Bennett's most recent signing was with the Goyang Sono Skygunners of the Korean Basketball League in 2023.

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Tony Bennett's retirement

On October 18, 2024, Tony Bennett, the head coach of the University of Virginia men's basketball team, announced his retirement at the age of 55, just 18 days before the season was set to begin. Bennett cited the state of unregulated NIL money and transfers as reasons for his departure, stating that he is "no longer equipped" to coach modern college basketball. He expressed hope for better regulation of these new aspects of the college basketball landscape.

Bennett had a distinguished career as a college basketball coach. From 2009 to 2024, he led the University of Virginia men's team to numerous successes, including winning the NCAA Championship in 2019, ACC tournaments in 2014 and 2018, and 6 ACC regular-season titles. He was also a three-time recipient of the Henry Iba Award, a two-time Naismith College Coach of the Year, and a two-time AP Coach of the Year. Known for his defensive coaching style, Bennett was ranked the top defensive coach in college basketball by CBS Sports and ESPN Insider.

Bennett's retirement came as a shock to many, as it was announced just three weeks before the start of the season. However, there had been rumours circulating for years that he might step down earlier than expected. In the lead-up to his retirement, Bennett had already handed over more responsibilities to Associate Head Coach Ron Sanchez, who implemented a faster-paced offensive system for the upcoming season.

Bennett expressed his desire to remain connected to the Virginia program, stating that he would like to take on a part-time role with "lots of vacation time." He also emphasised his trust in Sanchez and fellow associate coach Jason Williford to lead the program successfully into a new era.

Prior to his coaching career, Bennett was a professional basketball player. He was selected in the 1992 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets and played for them for three seasons until a foot injury ended his NBA career. Bennett then played in Australia and New Zealand, becoming a two-time New Zealand NBL All-Star Five honoree and a two-time Keith Carr Trophy winner.

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Notable games

Anthony Bennett, a former NBA number one overall pick, has had a notable basketball career, including playing for the Brooklyn Nets and representing Canada internationally. Here are some of his most notable games:

2012-13 UNLV Runnin' Rebels Season

During the 2012-13 season, Bennett showcased his talent in 35 games for the UNLV Runnin' Rebels. He primarily played power forward but also filled in at small forward. Despite battling a shoulder injury, he averaged 16.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game in limited minutes (27.1). His efficiency was impressive, with a PER of 28.3. Unfortunately, UNLV's season ended in the second round of the NCAA tournament with a loss to California.

Brooklyn Nets Debut

On October 29, 2016, Bennett made his debut for the Brooklyn Nets, scoring nine points in just 18 minutes off the bench against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Nets lost a close game, 110-108.

Season-High Scoring

On November 18, 2016, Bennett had a standout performance, scoring a season-high 12 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, the Nets fell short, losing 124-105.

First Start of the Season

On December 3, 2016, Bennett made his first start of the season against the Milwaukee Bucks. He recorded 7 points and a career-high 14 rebounds, showcasing his all-around contribution. Unfortunately, the Nets lost this game 112-103.

Hapoel Jerusalem Debut

On October 5, 2021, Bennett debuted for Hapoel Jerusalem of the Israeli Basketball Premier League, logging a team-high 22 points, 8 rebounds, and one assist in just 23 minutes of play. This performance highlighted his immediate impact on the team.

Kaohsiung Steelers

On February 9, 2022, Bennett joined the Kaohsiung Steelers of the Taiwanese P. League+, becoming the highest-drafted player in the NBA to play professionally in Taiwan. This move showcased his impact on the global game.

International Representation

Bennett represented Canada in multiple FIBA tournaments, including the 2009 FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship and the 2010 FIBA Under-17 World Championship, winning bronze medals in both. In 2015, he was part of the Canadian national team for the Pan American Games in Toronto, helping Canada secure a silver medal with an upset win over the United States in the semi-finals.

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Career statistics

Anthony Harris Bennett, born on March 14, 1993, is a Canadian professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) for one year. Bennett played 35 games during the 2012–13 UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball season, averaging 16.1 points and 8.1 rebounds a game in 27.1 minutes. He was the first overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, making him the first Canadian to be drafted number one overall.

In the 2013-2014 season, Bennett played 52 games, averaging 4.2 points and 3.0 rebounds in 12.8 minutes per game. On July 23, 2014, Bennett joined the Cavaliers for the NBA Summer League, averaging 13.3 points in four games. On August 23, 2014, he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he played 57 games (three starts) and averaged career highs of 5.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 15.7 minutes per game. On November 21, 2014, he scored a career-high 20 points against the San Antonio Spurs.

Bennett signed with the Toronto Raptors on September 28, 2015, after being waived by the Timberwolves. He made his debut with them on October 30, recording three rebounds and one steal in a win over the Boston Celtics. In his four NBA seasons, Bennett averaged 4.4 points and is considered one of the worst number-one picks in league history. He last played for the Formosa Dreamers of the Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL).

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College choices

Anthony Bennett, born on March 14, 1993, in Toronto, Ontario, is a Canadian professional basketball player. Bennett attended Harold M. Brathwaite Secondary School in Brampton and played basketball for Mountain State Academy in Beckley, West Virginia, from the age of 16. A year later, he moved to Henderson, Nevada, to play for the basketball academy Findlay Prep.

Bennett's impressive high school career saw him ranked as the #1 forward and #7 player overall in the 2012 high school class by ESPNU 100, Scout.com, and Rivals.com. With interest from multiple teams, Bennett narrowed down his college choices to Oregon and UNLV, ultimately committing to the latter on May 12, 2012. During the 2012-13 season, he played 35 games for the UNLV Runnin' Rebels, primarily as a power forward, averaging 16.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.

After just one year of college basketball, Bennett was selected as the first overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, becoming the first Canadian to achieve this feat. His NBA career spanned four seasons, during which he played for the Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets, and Toronto Raptors.

Bennett then embarked on a journeyman career, playing for various teams in different countries, including Turkey, Israel, Taiwan, and South Korea. He represented the Canadian national team in several international competitions, winning bronze medals at the 2009 FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship and 2010 FIBA Under-17 World Championship.

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