Benny Charles "B. J." Anthony Jr. (born 20 July 1988) is a New Zealand former professional basketball player who played multiple seasons in both the Australian NBL and New Zealand NBL. He also played in Germany and England, and represented the New Zealand Tall Blacks on multiple occasions.
Early life Anthony was born in Auckland, New Zealand. He attended Avondale College and played for the school's basketball team.
Professional career New Zealand NBL Anthony made his debut in the New Zealand NBL in 2008 with the Harbour Heat. He continued on with the Heat in 2009BJ Anthony Called into Tall Blacks and 2010. After a season with the Waikato Pistons in 2011, Anthony signed with the Otago Nuggets for the 2012 season.Nuggets sign Tall Blacks Anthony, Henry However, he missed the entire season due to injury. He returned to the Nuggets for the 2013 season.Otago Nuggets open NBL season with victory
In 2014, Anthony won a championship as a member of the Wellington Saints.Saints lose a Tall Blacks forward, add another He had signed with the Super City Rangers for the 2015 season, but missed the entire season due to injury.SuperCity Rangers sign Reuben Te Rangi for NZ NBL He re-joined the Saints in 2016 and won his second championship,Shea Ili and BJ Anthony join stacked Wellington Saints team for 2016 NBL going on to win his third with the Saints in 2017.Star-studded Wellington Saints team roll into season with only one import – by choice He played a fourth season with the Saints in 2018,Benny Anthony has signed with the... but missed the second half of the season with a broken foot.Wellington Saints big man Beny Anthony is...
Australian NBL In the 2010–11 season, Anthony made his debut in the Australian NBL as a development player with the New Zealand Breakers.Breakers name development players He played a second season with the Breakers in 2011–12 as a full-time contracted player. He won two championships in his two seasons with the Breakers.Breakers release troubled forward BJ Anthony
For the 2013–14 season, Anthony played for the Adelaide 36ers.36ERS SIGN KIWI INTERNATIONAL He continued on with the 36ers in 2014–15, but missed the second half of the season with an Achilles tendon injury.
Europe For the 2008–09 and 2009–10 seasons, Anthony played in Germany for Herzoege Wolfenbuettel of the ProB.Herzöge Wolfenbüttel – Saison 2008/09 Herzöge Wolfenbüttel – Saison 2009/10 During his first season, he also spent time with SG MTV/BG 93 Wolfenbuttel in the Regionalliga.
In January 2013, Anthony returned to Germany and joined BBC Solarto Eagles Magdeburg for the rest of the 2012–13 season.Solarto-Eagles setzen zum Höhenflug an He went on to earn Regionalliga All-Star Five honours.Basketball: Anthony chases redemption
For the 2015–16 season, Anthony joined the Plymouth Raiders of the British Basketball League. He appeared in five games before being released by the club on 7 November 2015 due to poor behaviour off the court.ANTHONY AND EDWARDS RELEASED BY RAIDERS FOR SERIOUS OFF COURT ISSUES
National team career Anthony was selected to join the Tall Blacks on 17 August 2009 for the first time as an injury replacement for Jeremiah Trueman. He participated in the 2009 FIBA Oceania Championship and the 2010 FIBA World Championship.
Personal Anthony's father, Benny Sr. (1958–2026), played and coached in the New Zealand NBL.Basketball: Star recruits have Northland linksSuper City Rangers name Jeff Green as coach
Anthony holds a British passport thanks to his English-born mother.
References
External links FIBA profile Eurobasket.com profile