Boomer Andersen returns to Europe

Updated June 30, 2011 19:49:00

Australian journeyman forward/centre David Andersen has signed a three-year deal with former club Montepaschi Siena in Italy after two seasons in the NBA.

With a labour lock-out looming in the NBA, Andersen opted to take his talents back to Europe where he made a name for himself in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Andersen, 31, starred in Europe for a decade before taking his game to the United States in stints with Houston, Toronto and New Orleans.

He was selected 37th overall in the 2002 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks, but he continued to play in Europe until the Rockets purchased his rights from the Hawks in 2009 to use him to shore up their frontcourt in the absence of star centre Yao Ming.

The Frankston, Victoria-born power forward previously played for Montepaschi Siena in 2003/04, helping the club to the Final Four in Tel Aviv.

Andersen also contributed to Virtus Bologna's 2001 Italian and Euroleague title campaigns and was named to the All-Euroleague first team in 2004/05 during his time with Russian club CSKA Moscow.

He has won three FIBA Oceania championships with Australia in 2003, 2005 and 2007.

Tags: sport, basketball, australia, italy

First posted June 30, 2011 19:39:00

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Former Snake Dillon returns home

"I adapted well," he says affably. "I just loved the atmosphere and the scenery up in Cairns. It got pretty hot at times, even with the rain and the cyclones, I experienced a lot."

When he wasn't avoiding the force of Tropical Cyclone Yasi, Dillon was cementing himself as a standout pro in the NBL, landing a starting role in a competitive Taipans backcourt.

The combo guard topped it off with 21 points in an upset victory over the Townsville Crocodiles in the semi finals and endeared himself to fans with his aggressive and often acrobatic drives to the hoop.

But after initially agreeing to terms to stay at the Taipans, Dillon signed a three-year deal with his hometown team, the Melbourne Tigers, something he says wasn't an easy decision.

"Melbourne pretty much just put an offer to me I couldn't refuse," he says. "I had a chance to be with my family, in my home city and play on a team that's well respected."

"It wasn't easy. I was in Cairns for the whole year. It felt like my home. I met a lot of people while I was there, a lot of true fans and people I'll keep in contact with for the rest of my life anyway.

"It took me over a week to decide and even when I made the decision I wasn't too sure if it was the right one or the wrong one. I feel like I made the right decision for myself but I know that I let down a lot of people who are Cairns supporters and were expecting the same group to come back.

"I apologise to those people but hopefully I'm in a good space for right now and we can compete."

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