Last Updated on April 16, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here’s the detailed profile of Derek Anderson:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Derek Lamont Anderson
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born July 18, 1974
  • Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky, USA
  • Height: 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
  • Weight: 194 lbs (88 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6ft 6 in
  • Shoe Size: Size 15 (US)
  • Number: #1, #23
  • Position: Shooting Guard / Point Guard
  • High School: Doss High School, Louisville, Kentucky
  • College:
    • Community College: Ohio Valley College
    • Transferred to: University of Kentucky (1995–1997)
  • NBA Draft: Selected 13th overall in the 1997 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Teams Played For:
    • Cleveland Cavaliers (1997–1999)
    • Los Angeles Clippers (1999–2000)
    • San Antonio Spurs (2001)
    • Portland Trail Blazers (2001–2003)
    • Houston Rockets (2003–2004)
    • Miami Heat (2004–2005)
    • Portland Trail Blazers (2005)
    • Charlotte Bobcats (2005–2006)
    • Miami Heat (2006)
  • Championship Rings: 1 NBA Championship with the Miami Heat (2006)
  • Kids: Derek Anderson has a son named Derek Anderson Jr.
  • Siblings: Information on siblings is not publicly available.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Derek Anderson’s player archetype was that of a two-way scoring guard, a long, athletic wing who could defend either backcourt spot while also supplying perimeter shooting, secondary ball-handling, and straight-line offense. Defensively, he projected as a competitive, versatile guard defender who had the size and mobility to check shooters and bigger wings, while offensively he was most effective as a complementary scorer who could space the floor, attack closeouts, and create some offense without needing to dominate the ball. At 6-foot-5 and around 195 pounds, Anderson had good length, spring, and fluidity for a combo guard, which helped him play with more range and toughness than a pure specialist. His overall play style blended shot-making, athletic slashing, and functional all-around guard skills, making him the kind of wing who fit best beside stars rather than as the centerpiece of an offense. (nba.com)

Notes:

  • Similar players to Derek Anderson include Nick Anderson.

Sources:

NBA.com — Derek Anderson | Guard | Portland Trail Blazers
Basketball-Reference — Derek Anderson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
Deseret News — Texas two-step
NBA.com — Year-by-year NBA All-Rookie Teams