Last Updated on April 17, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Christopher John Anstey is a retired Australian professional basketball player renowned for his significant contributions both domestically and internationally.

Player Profile

Personal Information:

  • Full Name: Christopher John Anstey
  • Nationality: Australian
  • Age: Born January 1, 1975
  • Hometown: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  • Height: 7 feet 0 inches (213 cm)
  • Weight: 245 pounds (111 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7 feet 1 inch
  • Shoe Size: Size 19 (US)
  • Jersey Numbers: 11, 13, 22
  • Position: Center

Educational and Athletic Background:

  • High School: Information not publicly available
  • College: Did not attend college; transitioned directly to professional basketball

Professional Career:

  • NBA Draft: Selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round (18th overall pick) of the 1997 NBA Draft
  • Teams Played For:
    • Melbourne Tigers (1994)
    • South East Melbourne Magic (1995–1997)
    • Dallas Mavericks (1997–1999)
    • Chicago Bulls (1999–2000)
    • Victoria Titans (2000–2002)
    • Ural Great (Russia, 2002–2003)
    • UNICS Kazan (Russia, 2003–2005)
    • Melbourne Tigers (2005–2010)
  • Championships:
    • NBL Championships: 3 (1996 with South East Melbourne Magic; 2006 and 2008 with Melbourne Tigers)
  • Notable Achievements:
    • NBL Most Valuable Player (MVP): 2 times (2006, 2008)
    • NBL Grand Final MVP: 2 times (2006, 2008)
    • NBL Best Defensive Player: 2008
    • NBL Leading Rebounder: 2 times (2008, 2009)
    • NBL Leading Shot Blocker: 4 times (2006–2009)
    • FIBA Under-22 World Championship MVP: 1997

Personal Life:

  • Children: Three – Isobel (“Izzy”), Ethan, and Hunter
    • Isobel Anstey: Selected for the Australian women’s under-17 and under-19 teams; has played for the UCLA Bruins women’s basketball team since 2021.
  • Siblings: Information not publicly available

Player Archetype / Play Style

Chris Anstey’s player archetype was that of a skilled two-way stretch center, a true seven-footer who protected the rim, controlled the glass and still had enough offensive polish to score beyond simple drop-offs and put-backs. Defensively, he served as a back-line anchor, using his size, reach and timing to block shots, deter drives and clean up possessions with strong rebounding, which made him one of the NBL’s most effective interior defenders in his prime. Offensively, Anstey operated as a featured big who could finish inside, score with touch in the post and mid-range, and punish defenses with the kind of versatility that separated him from more limited traditional centers. Physically, he brought classic center dimensions at seven feet with long arms and a strong frame, but his game stood out because he paired that length with coordination and enough mobility to play a more modern brand of big-man basketball. Altogether, his play style was built on size, skill and control: a high-level center who could anchor a defense, stretch the scoring burden in the frontcourt and influence games at both ends without relying on pure brute force alone.

Fun Facts

  • His daughter, Isobel (“Izzy”) Anstey, has followed in his athletic footsteps, representing Australia in international competitions and playing collegiate basketball for UCLA.
  • After retiring from professional play in 2010, he transitioned into coaching, leading the Melbourne Tigers/United from 2012 to 2014.
  • Beyond basketball, Anstey has been involved in corporate ventures, founding the TLC Group in 2010, which comprises TLC Mentoring, TLC Management, and TLC Events.
  • As of September 2023, he leads Media8 Sports, a sports media company based on the Gold Coast, which acquired the Taranaki Airs of the New Zealand NBL, with Anstey becoming the leader of the team’s basketball program.

Sources:

Basketball.com.au — Best Players in NBL History: Chris Anstey
Basketball Australia — Chris Anstey OLY
Basketball.com.au — Aussies in NBA history: Chris Anstey