Some may have asked why Kyle Anderson wore protective glasses during the World Cup. The choice of the Wolves player, recruited by the Chinese national team this summer, is linked to an injury to his left eye, which occurred during the last playoffs.
“Slo Mo” was the victim of an unintentional collision with teammate Anthony Edwards during the fourth inning of the first round against the Nuggets. A sufficiently serious injury, ” brutal » in his words, so that he can skip the following match, a playoff for Minnesota (1-4). And above all, imagine never playing basketball again.
“ I had to be strong for my family, I really did. Everyone in my family was a little worried and I didn’t show them that I was. But it was really difficult. From what I heard, I didn’t know if I would ever be able to play again “, reports Kyle Anderson in his back-to-school interview.
Forced to abandon his teammates in the middle of a battle, the former Spurs and Grizzlies player recovered by contacting an ophthalmologist from UCLA in California, Dr. Stephen Schwartz, who began by reassuring him: he would be able to play again.
“With good lighting, you should be fine”
“ From then on, I knew it would be okay. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried or nervous the four or five days after the injury. », admits the winger who, before this injury, was averaging 8.5 points, 4.5 assists and 4 rebounds in the series against the future champions.
After a mixed World Cup, collectively (29th place) and individually (13 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists), “Kaier Li”, as he is called in China, says he still has a little trouble seeing according to the lighting.
“ I feel good, normal again, I’m adjusting to it a little more every day. It was clearly difficult, at the beginning of July or the end of June. I was playing in these little gyms in New Jersey, it was dark and I couldn’t see anything. But it’s much better now. I’m sure in an NBA room, with good lighting, it should be fine », Hopes the 30-year-old.
| Kyle Anderson | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2014-15 | SAN | 33 | 11 | 34.8 | 27.3 | 64.3 | 0.2 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 2.2 |
| 2015-16 | SAN | 78 | 16 | 46.8 | 32.4 | 74.7 | 0.3 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 4.5 |
| 2016-17 | SAN | 72 | 14 | 44.5 | 37.5 | 78.9 | 0.5 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 3.4 |
| 2017-18 | SAN | 74 | 27 | 52.7 | 33.3 | 71.2 | 1.1 | 4.2 | 5.4 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 7.9 |
| 2018-19 | SAME | 43 | 30 | 54.3 | 26.5 | 57.8 | 1.1 | 4.7 | 5.8 | 3.0 | 2.6 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 8.1 |
| 2019-20 | SAME | 67 | 20 | 47.4 | 28.2 | 66.7 | 0.9 | 3.4 | 4.3 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 5.8 |
| 2020-21 | SAME | 69 | 27 | 46.8 | 36.0 | 78.3 | 0.8 | 5.0 | 5.7 | 3.6 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 12.4 |
| 2021-22 | SAME | 69 | 22 | 44.6 | 33.0 | 63.8 | 1.0 | 4.3 | 5.3 | 2.7 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 7.6 |
| 2022-23 | MIN | 69 | 28 | 50.9 | 41.0 | 73.5 | 1.0 | 4.4 | 5.3 | 4.9 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 9.4 |
| Total | 574 | 22 | 48.1 | 34.5 | 71.5 | 0.8 | 3.7 | 4.5 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 7.0 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
