The winner of the 1996 Most Valuable Player award in Australia's National Basketball League, Chris Anstey was acquired in a 1997 draft day trade by the Dallas Mavericks after being selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 18th overall pick in the first round. He played in 41 games in each of his first two seasons with the Mavericks, primarily in a reserve role, before being dealt to Chicago prior to the 1999-2000 season. He played in 73 games in his first season with the Bulls, including 11 starts. Anstey was a member of the South East Melbourne Magic team which won the NBL Championship in 1996 and finished second to the Melbourne Tigers in 1997. Although he did not begin playing organized basketball until he was 17 years old, Anstey started his NBL career at the age of 19 as a backup to Mark Bradtke (formerly of the Philadelphia 76ers) with the Melbourne Tigers. He helped the Tigers to a semifinal berth in his rookie season, then signed as a free agent with the SE Melbourne Magic in 1995. In 1996 he finished second in voting for the NBL Sixth Man Award, averaging 11.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg and 1.1 spg in 22 minutes per game. He led the Magic team in blocks, averaging 1.5 per game, and led the league in field goal percentage (minimum 100 attempted), shooting .607. Following the 1996 season, Anstey played for the Magic during a six-game tour vs. NCAA Division I colleges, with top games were 25 points of 10 rebounds vs. Arizona, 23 points and 12 rebounds vs. San Diego State and 18 points and nine rebounds vs. Texas. He was voted the MVP of the 1997 FIBA 22 & Under World Championships as a member of the Australian team that won the tournament title, then helped the South East Melbourne Magic to the finals of Australia's NBL championships, where the Magic lost 2-1 to the Melbourne Tigers. He was named the outstanding player in Game 2 of the final series, when he scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the Magic's only victory. As soon as the Australian championships ended, Anstey joined the Mavericks. He arrived in Dallas on November 2, signed his contract and began practicing the next day and made his NBA debut against Portland on November 8. Despite a sprained thumb, sprained finger and sprained ankle, he averaged 5.9 points and 3.8 rebounds in just 16.6 minutes per game in his first NBA campaign. He competed for the Australian National Team at the 1998 Goodwill Games in New York and the FIBA World Championships in Greece, then played in 41 games for the Mavericks in 1998-99. He saw only limited action and his averages dipped to 1.3 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. Prior to the start of training camp for the 1999-2000 season, Anstey was traded to the Chicago Bulls for a second round draft pick in 2000, with the hopes he could play a part in the Bulls' rebuilding process. He played in 73 games for Chicago, making 11 starts, and averaged a career-high 6.0 ppg and tying his career-high with 3.8 rpg.

1999-2000 REGULAR SEASON
Netted 17 points in a 93-89 loss to Philadelphia on 4/18 Registered 18 points and 11 rebounds in an 86-81 loss to Cleveland on 3/29 Recorded 14 points and 10 rebounds in a 78-67 loss at New York on 3/22 Notched 12 points and 16 rebounds in an 88-86 loss to Orlando on 3/20 Posted 19 points in a 89-83 loss to Atlanta on 1/14 Tallied 11 points and a career-high 15 rebounds in a 101-95 loss to Dallas on 12/2 Totaled 18 points and 5 rebounds in a 95-86 loss in Denver on 11/20

1998-1999 REGULAR SEASON
Totaled 10 points and 7 rebounds against the L.A. Lakers on 5/3 Posted 5 points, a game-high 10 rebounds and 3 steals against the San Antonio Spurs on 4/22 Scored 12 points (6-7 FG) against the Minnesota Timberwolves on 3/30

• A former tennis player, Antsey ranked as high as No.2 among Australia's 15-year-old players
• Lists "The Simpsons" as his favorite television show, and Mariah Carey as his favorite singer
• The first time his picture ever appeared in the newspaper was for being the first baby born in 1975