"Slow mo," reporters cracked as UCLA's Kyle Anderson appeared to be in slow motion dribbling the ball up the court. Shooting guard, coaches declared when deciding where he belonged. Too emotional, critics hissed when he lost his temper and the ball.
Now look.
On Saturday, Anderson wore a huge grin and, around his neck, the nets UCLA's basketball team cut down after its 75-71 upset victory over Arizona in the championship game of the Pac-12 tournament. Playing where he apparently belonged all along, Anderson directed UCLA's offense and led the Bruins with 21 points, 15 rebounds and five assists.
"I mean, seriously, 21, 15, and 5 from your point guard?'' UCLA coach Steve Alford marveled after the game. "He's an amazing player, and he's proven it all year long.''
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At 6 feet 9 inches, Anderson towers over most opposing point guards. He is languid but quick enough to lead the fast break. Thin but strong enough to fight for rebounds. Quicker to pass than shoot, but often light's out from 3-point range.
The results: He averages 14.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game — closer to a triple-double than any other player in the country, according to UCLA's research.
Anderson will have a chance to showcase his versatile skills Friday in the NCAA Tournament when No. 4 seed UCLA plays No. 13 seed Tulsa in the first round of the West Regional in San Diego. His father, Kyle Anderson Sr., will have to resist the urge to gloat.
The elder Anderson, a high school basketball coach in New Jersey, had spent years trying to mold his son into a point guard. So he privately stewed when coach Bobby Hurley Sr. used Anderson as a shooting guard at St. Anthony High School — "I was offended by that,'' he said — and continued to simmer when former UCLA coach Ben Howland did the same thing last season. Howland named senior Larry Drew the starting point guard, relegating Anderson to shooting guard and backup point guard.
He never complained either. In fact, he thrived.
Anderson led UCLA in rebounds with 8.6 per game, along with 9.7 points and 3.5 assists per game. But then out went Howland, in came Alford, and promptly Anderson was named the starting point guard.
Instead of seeing a player too slow, or a shooting guard of position, Alford saw something unorthodox but special.
"He's very unique,'' Alford said. "A 6-9 point guard that facilitates the way he can. He's a nightmare to match up with.''
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Proving his worth at the position, Anderson was selected as one of six finalists for the Bob Cousy Award, presented annually to the nation's top point guard. He also earned All-Pac-12 honors.
The season has not been blemish-free. In late February, Anderson and teammate Jordan Adams were suspended for one game for violating an unspecified team rule. The transgression called into question Anderson's judgment.
But on the court, he demonstrated more maturity, evolving from a emotionally reactive freshman to a more composed sophomore.
"He's mellowed out this year,'' UCLA forward Tony Parker said.
Anderson grinned sheepishly when told of the observation. He confessed that his emotions get away from him, even though the ball gets away from him less frequently.
"That's just the way I am,'' he said. "But I think I've learned to control them a lot more this year. Last year I would let other teams, I would other things that don't really matter get in my head.''
It's been an ongoing process, Alford said.
"He was one leader in October, and he's a much, much better leader now than he was in October,'' he said.
Meanwhile, Anderson's father must resist the urge to gloat.
"It amazes me that people question his point guard skills,'' he said. "I'm the person who made him a point guard.''
At last given a chance, Kyle Anderson has proved he belongs there.
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