Alan Anderson roster

Jay Johnson

LOS ANGELES – Stroll into the locker room before a game, and you might not notice him. You probably won’t hear him, either, even as he’s singing a Jay-Z, Jadakiss or Nas song to himself, no louder for anyone more than a few feet from him to notice.

But leave that space, less than an hour later, and he’s the one guiding pregame routines to get the Clippers hyped. He’s the one helping form handshakes for every player on the team, endearing himself to everyone on the roster. He’s the one leading chants, and he’s the first one to celebrate when someone on the court does something positive, particularly when someone drills a shot behind the arc.

It’s all part of what makes Alan Anderson, in head coach Doc Rivers’ words, the “best teammate in the world,” and why he’s generally just someone everyone wants around.

“He’s amazing,” Rivers said. “Whether he plays or not, he’s the first guy to someone. He recognizes when a guy is out on the floor, and if he’s struggling mentally, he goes to him.”

Rivers said the way he’s able to tell the brutally honest truth in a way that teammates still receive it reminds him of Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue, who served as an assistant for Rivers in L.A. and Boston and played briefly for Rivers in Orlando.

“I think that’s a gift,” Rivers said.

It’s a gift that hasn’t changed throughout a winding road to, from and back to the NBA for Anderson, who’s done it all since going to the then-Charlotte Bobcats in 2005 before stints in the NBA Development League and internationally.

It didn’t change when he returned to the NBA, either, making stops with Toronto, Brooklyn and Washington since 2011, before joining the Clippers this summer.

“I’ve seen a lot of guys in different situations, but with me, I’ve always been an energetic guy, whether I’m playing or not,” Anderson said. “That’s just me, my personality.”

Immediately, that rubbed off on his new teammates, who affectionately refer to him as “Double-A.”

“Double-A brings a spirit,” said Chris Paul. “Like we keep talking about it, having the right spirit, the right energy every night – Double-A is one of those glue guys that every team needs, and he’s been a big part of our team. As you can see, every night he’s the one that’s sort of rallying guys.”

And, again, that’s regardless of playing time.

When healthy, Anderson has the skills to be a difference-maker on the court, as he showed during the 2012-13 season in Toronto, when he averaged 10.7 points per game, including a 35-point night against New York in March of that season.

Anderson played in 65 games that year and in at least 74 games in each of his next two seasons in Brooklyn. Then came last year’s trying season in Washington, with ankle issues limiting him to 13 games.

He hasn’t been on the court much this year, yet, as the 34-year-old forward attempts to work himself back to full strength, a process Rivers said at the beginning of the year could take some time. But he’s slowly getting there, getting five minutes of action in the Clippers’ win in Cleveland, which marked his second game played this season.

“Just making progress as each day and week goes along,” Anderson said in Brooklyn during the Clippers’ six-game trip.

He could sulk. He could complain he’s only played 14 minutes this year. He could be a crotchety teammate.

But that’s never been Anderson’s shtick, which is why his teammates aren’t surprised about the kind of person they brought to their group this summer. From the start of training camp, they knew immediately the type of addition Anderson would be.

“One of the best teammates I’ve ever had,” said DeAndre Jordan. “He’s a big energy guy, big enthusiastic guy. We need that.”

And eventually, Rivers knows he’ll need Anderson the player, as well. Whenever that happens, Anderson said he’ll be ready.

Until then, he’ll wait for his turn and keep the rest of his teammates ready to go.

“He wants to play, like everyone else, but if you had to vote for the MVP teammate, I think he wins hands down,” Rivers said. “He’s gone through that frustration of trying to train and not play, yet if you watched our bench during the games, you would never know it.”

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Glue Guy Alan Anderson’s Already A Clipper Favorite

Robyn Dixon

LOS ANGELES – Alan Anderson’s determined to get past a frustrating 2015-16 season, and he’ll get to do it in a new environment with the Clippers.

The wing officially signed with the Clippers early this week, finally feeling healthy again after injuries impacted his production last year with Washington in a way they never had before.

From going undrafted, to getting a taste of the NBA before bouncing around the D-League and Europe, to eventually becoming a mainstay back in the league in 2012, Anderson’s gone through plenty and witnessed just about everything a player can in the league.

Then came last year with the Wizards, when ankle and hamstring issues limited Anderson to 13 games. 

“Last season was real tough, because I’d never been hurt like that before,” Anderson said. “I’ve always played at least 50-plus games, so it was difficult for me. But you go through everything, you go through things to get through things. It was tough, but I’m just happy to be through it, be done with it, move on from it, learn from it.”

And he’ll get to do all of that now with the Clippers, signing with the team who was after him from the start.

Anderson said he knew the Clippers were interested in once free agency began, but there was plenty of unknown at the time regarding the cap situation. He knew, regardless which players returned to the Clippers and which newcomers agreed to deals, they wouldn’t be able to afford much.  

“I really wasn’t thinking about a minimum deal at the time,” Anderson said.

But Anderson said teams worried about his health, though he insists that’s no longer a problem after injuries limited him to five points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game in 13 games last season. Following ankle surgery, Anderson didn’t play his first game with the Wizards until Feb. 24.

The 6-6 wing, who holds career averages of 7.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game, is trying to get past that trying season in Washington, where he was brought in as the veteran wing to help replace Paul Pierce. Now, he’ll be joining Pierce’s team in Los Angeles, hoping to bounce back with plenty of talent around him to help.

“I turned down a lot of offers because they weren’t the best fit for me,” Anderson said. “The Clippers were actually the strongest team from Day 1, even though they didn’t have what I thought I was worth. They were the most loyal – the most consistent – and I just feel more comfortable with these guys.”

Anderson knows Chris Paul, Ray Felton, DeAndre Jordan and Jamal Crawford from years playing against them. He even played against J.J. Redick in his younger days, including college when he was a Michigan State Spartan facing off against Redick’s Duke Blue Devils.

In total, Anderson says he knows about half the Clippers’ roster well, and he likes what he sees.

“I see something special,” Anderson said, “and just want to be a part of it.”

He knows the looks that could come his way, with the attention Paul, Redick and Blake Griffin will get. He said he can help stretch the floor, handle the ball and defend, adding another dimension on the wing.

While he hasn’t talked specifics regarding his role yet with Clippers’ personnel, he knows opportunity will be there.

“And I’m going to make the most of it,” Anderson said. 

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Alan Anderson Signs With Clippers, Sees “Something Special”

photos-alan-andersons-career

Photos: Alan Anderson's Career

The L.A. Clippers announced today that the team has signed guard Alan Anderson.

Anderson, 33, spent last season with the Washington Wizards, where he averaged 5.0 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 13 games. The seven-year NBA veteran holds career averages of 7.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 300 games (66 starts) with the Charlotte Bobcats, Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets and Wizards.

The Minneapolis native has spent time playing in the NBA Development League, Europe and China during his career. Anderson holds D-League career averages of 18.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 44 games (24 starts) with the Tulsa 66ers, New Mexico Thunderbirds and Canton Charge. In 2009-10, he captured the Euroleague Championship with Regal FC Barcelona and the following season, he was voted MVP of the Spanish Cup.

The Michigan State graduate boasted averages of 9.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists over his four-year career where he helped lead the Spartans to the NCAA Tournament Final Four in 2005.

Alan Anderson roster

Glue Guy Alan Anderson’s Already A Clipper Favorite

Alan Anderson Signs With Clippers, Sees “Something Special”

Photos: Alan Anderson's Career

LA Clippers Sign Alan Anderson