Patrick Anderson

Place of Birth: Fergus, Ont.
Resides: Brooklyn, NY
Birthday: 22-08-1979
Height: 6'4"
Occupation: Athlete / Musician
Club(s): Bidaideak Bilbao BSR
Classification: 4.5

Biography

Patrick Anderson is largely considered to be the best wheelchair basketball player in the world and one of the greatest to have ever played the game. His talents on and off the court have garnered him international fame as a great role model and fabulous ambassador of the sport. He is well known for his basketball flair and charismatic personality.

Anderson was born in Edmonton, Alta. and grew up in Fergus, Ont. Like many Canadian kids, he enjoyed playing ice hockey and other sports. In 1989, at the age of 9, he was struck by a drunk driver and lost both of his legs below the knee. He discovered wheelchair basketball in 1990 and his natural athletic ability and tenacity quickly transferred over to the basketball court.

With Paralympic aspirations fuelling his competitive fire, Anderson worked his way up to the National Team in 1997. He also earned a wheelchair basketball scholarship to the University of Illinois.

Anderson wasted little time making a name for himself on the international stage. His exceptional talents, unmistakable style, and dangerous combination of height and speed were on full display as he led the Canadian Junior Men’s National Team to back-to-back World Championships in 1997 and 2001. He was named the most valuable player of both tournaments.

In 1998, Canada won bronze at the world championship and Anderson was named to the first of many all-star teams as a member of the Canadian Senior Men’s National Team. He later realized his dream of playing the sport at the highest level and helped Canada win back-to-back Paralympic gold medals in 2000 and 2004, along with a silver medal in 2008. He also became a world champion as Team Canada captured the gold medal in 2006.

Outside of the National Team program, Anderson has competed in professional leagues overseas in Australia and Germany. In 2003, he was named the MVP of the Australian National Wheelchair Basketball League. His former club in Germany, RSV Lahn-Dill, also won three consecutive European Champions Cups from 2004-2006. He has also won numerous national championships and individual accolades in both Canada and the United States.

Anderson took a brief hiatus from wheelchair basketball following the 2008 Paralympic Games to pursue other interests, including his love for music. Music has always been a big part of his life and it’s a passion that he continues to explore to this day alongside his wife Anna with their band The Lay Awakes.

In 2011, an invigorated Anderson returned to Team Canada set to push his game, his team and his sport to the next level. He once again led Canada to Paralympic gold at London 2012, where he led the tournament in scoring.

He took another hiatus from the National Team following the London 2012 Paralympics, but much to the delight of his teammates, coaches, and all of Canada, Anderson donned his Team Canada jersey once again in 2017. He led the Canadian Senior Men’s National Team to a silver medal finish at the 2017 Americas Cup, qualifying a spot for the 2018 IWBF World Championships. Anderson averaged 23 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists per game and was named MVP of the tournament.

To learn more about Pat check out his personal website at www.patanderson.ca or follow him on Twitter @andersonpatrick or Instagram @patrickdanderson.

Interesting Facts

  • He is an aspiring musician who has studied general music & jazz guitar
  • He was named an honorary mayor of the Olympic & Paralympic Villages at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, BC

Awards / Highlights

  • Named 2018 Wheelchair Basketball Canada Male Athlete of the Year
  • 2nd place at Americas Cup and named MVP in Cali Colombia
  • Inducted into the Centre Wellington Hall of Fame (2015)
  • Named Best Male Athlete of the Year at the 2013 Canadian Paralympic Committee Sport Awards
  • Named Ontario Athlete of the Year With A Disability in 2013
  • Received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2013)
  • Named finalist for prestigious Laureus Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award (2012)
  • Named 2003-2005, 2012 National Championships tournament MVP
  • Named 2009 & 2013 Wheelchair Basketball Canada Male Athlete of the Year
  • Named 2008 BC Wheelchair Basketball Society Male Athlete of the Year
  • Named Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association (CWSA) Male Athlete of the Year in 2004, 2006 & 2012
  • Named to the 2006 World Championships tournament all-star team
  • Named to the 2006 National Championships tournament all-star team
  • 2004 Canadian Sport Award for Male Team of the Year
  • Back-to-back MVP awards at World Junior Wheelchair Basketball Championships (1997 & 2001)

Major International Competition

Tournament Gold Silver Bronze Other
Paralympic Games: 5 3 (’12,’04,’00) 1 (’08) ’20
World Championships: 4 1 (’06) 0 2 (’02, ’98) 12 (’18),
6th (’22)

Statistics

Paralympic Games

Year GP Min M/G Field Goals 3Pts Free Throws Rebounds AS TO ST BS PF FO PTS P/G
M/A % M/A % M/A % OR DR TOT
2012 8 245 30:38 86/143 60 3/8 38 19/30 63 17 71 88 64 17 13 2 12 46 200 25.0
2008 8 225 28:09 49/89 55 8/27 30 41/69 59 21 78 99 40 20 12 3 17 60 163 20.4
2004 8 244 30:34 55/102 53 12/30 40 30/44 68 28 62 90 33 21 29 5 17 42 174 21.8
2000 8 225 28:12 62/108 57 4/13 31 25/41 61 25 73 98 35 16 16 4 16 161 20.8
TOTAL 32 939 29:23 251/442 57 27/78 35 115/184 63 91 284 375 172 74 70 14 62 148 698 21.8

World Championships

Year GP Min M/G Field Goals 3 Pts Free Throws Rebounds AS TO ST BS PF FO PTS P/G
M/A % M/A % M/A % OR DR TOT
2018 5 176:43 35:20 46/87 53 10/26 38 23/25 92 11 49 60 37 13 4 3 11 35 125 25
2006 8 242 30:18 56/96 58 5/17 29 29/49 59 23 23 79 34 23 26 1 16 156 19.5
2002 8 229 28:34 53/97 55 6/23 26 29/42 69 16 22 77 50 22 27 4 16 153 19.1
TOTAL 21 647.43 31:24 155/280 55 21/66 32 81/116 70 60 94 216 121 58 57 8 43 35 434 21.2


Legend
: GP = Games Played; Min = Minutes; M/G = Minutes per Game; M/A = Made / Attempted; OR = Offensive Rebounds; DR = Defensive Rebounds; TOT = Total; AS = Assists; TO = Turn Overs; ST = Steals; BS = Blocked Shots;PF = Personal Foul; FO = Foul On; PTS = Points; P/G = Points per Game

Competitive Experience

Level Team Location Year(s)
International Canada (SMNT) Canada 1998-2009, 2011-2012; 2017-Present
International Canada (JMNT) Canada 1997; 2001
Club (domestic) New York Rollin Knicks New York (United States) 2013-Present
Club (domestic) Cologne 99ers Cologne (Germany) 2010-2011
Club (domestic) Douglas College British Columbia (Canada) 2007-2010
Club (domestic) British Colombia Cable Cars British Columbia (Canada) 2007-2008
Club (domestic) Prince George Titans British Columbia (Canada) 2006-2007
Club (domestic) RSV Lahn-Dill Wetzlar (Germany) 2002; 2003-2006
Club (domestic) Brisbane Spinning Bullets Brisbane (Australia) 2003
Club (domestic) University of Illinois Illinois (United States) 1998-2001
Club (domestic) Twin City Spinners Ontario (Canada) 1990-2003

Career Notes

2023: Bronze medal at 2023 Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile.

2023: Sixth place finish at the 2022 IWBF World Championships in Dubai.

2021: 8th place finish at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics

2019: 2nd place at Lima 2019 Parapan American Games…3rd place at the Wałbrzych President Cup Tournament in Poland (Team Canada)

2018: Named 2018 Wheelchair Basketball Canada Male Athlete of the Year …1st place at the NWBA National Championship (Div 1) with the New York Rollin Knicks; named an all-star in Louisville, US (domestic)…3rd place at Mitsubishi Electric World Challenge Cup in Tokyo, Japan (Team Canada).. 5th place at 2018 Continental Clash in Sheffield, GB (Team Canada – Named an All-Star)…12th place at the 2018 World Wheelchair Basketball Championships (Team Canada)

2017: 2nd place at Americas Cup and named MVP in Cali Colombia (Team Canada)…

2014: 1st place at the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) National Championship with the New York Rollin Knicks & named MVP in Louisville, United States (domestic)…

2013: 2nd place at Kitakyushu Champions Cup in Kitakyushu, Japan (Team Canada)… Named finalist for Best Male Athlete by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) at the 2013 Paralympic Sport Awards… Named Wheelchair Basketball Canada Male Athlete of the Year… Named Ontario Male Athlete of the Year With A Disability…

2012: 1st place at Paralympic Games in London, England (Team Canada)… 1st place at National Championship with Team Ontario & named MVP in Richmond, BC (domestic)… 1st place at Continental Clash tournament in Worcester, England (Team Canada)… 2nd place at Papendal Tournament in Arnhem, Netherlands (Team Canada)… Named Male Athlete of the Year by Canadian Wheelchair Sport Association…

2011: 3rd place at Parapan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico (Team Canada)… 3rd place at International Tournament of Champions in Charlotte, USA (Team Canada)… 1st place at BT Paralympic Cup in Manchester, UK (Team Canada)…

2010: 1st place at CWBL Open Finals with the Douglas College Lions & named MVP in Coquitlam, BC (domestic)…

2009: 2nd at Americas Cup Qualifier in Richmond, BC (Team Canada)…

2008: 2nd place at Paralympic Games in Beijing, China (Team Canada)… 2nd place at North American Cup in Birmingham, USA (Team Canada)… 1st place at Pre-Paralympic Test Series in Osnabrück, Germany (Team Canada)… 1st place at Good Luck Beijing Invitational Tournament in Beijing, China (Team Canada)… 1st place NWBA Division I National Championships with British Columbia Cable Cars & named MVP in Lexington, USA (domestic)… 1st place at CWBL Open Finals with the Douglas College Royals & named MVP in Regina, SK (domestic)…

2007: 2nd place at Parapan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Team Canada)… 2nd place at NWBA Final Four Championship with the British Columbia Cable Cars & named MVP in Lexington, USA (domestic)… 2nd place at CWBL Open Finals with the Prince George Titans & named MVP in Quebec City, QC (domestic)…

2006: 1st place at World Championships & named All-Star in Amsterdam, Netherlands (Team Canada)… 1st place at Paralympic Cup in Manchester, UK (Team Canada)… 1st place at Osaka Cup in Osaka, Japan (Team Canada)… 1st place at European Champions Cup with RSV Lahn-Dill in Europe (domestic)… 1st place at National Championships with Team Ontario & named All-Star in Kitchener, ON (domestic)… Named Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association (CWSA) Male Athlete of the Year…

2005: 1st place at Americas Qualification Tournament in Colorado, USA (Team Canada)… 1st place at European Champions Cup with RSV Lahn-Dill in Europe (domestic)… 1st place at National Championships with Team Ontario & named MVP in Edmonton, AB (domestic)… Won Paralympic Sport Award for Best Team Performance as a member of the Canadian Men’s National Team for their efforts at the 2004 Paralympic Games…

2004: 1st place at Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece (Team Canada)… 1st place at North American Cup in Birmingham, USA (Team Canada)… 2nd place at Roosevelt World Basketball Challenge in Warm Springs, USA (Team Canada)… 1st place at European Champions Cup with RSV Lahn-Dill in Europe (domestic)… 1st place at National Championships with Team Ontario & named MVP in Vancouver, BC (domestic)… Named Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association (CWSA) Male Athlete of the Year… Won Canadian Sport Award for Male Team of the Year as a member of the Canadian Men’s National Team for their efforts at the 2004 Paralympic Games…

2003: 1st place at Parapan American Games in Mar del Plata, Argentina (Team Canada)… 1st place at Roosevelt World Basketball Challenge in Warm Springs, USA (Team Canada)… 2nd place in National Wheelchair Basketball League with the Brisbane Spinning Bullets & named MVP & All-Star in Australia (domestic)… 1st place at National Championships with Team Ontario & named MVP in Toronto, ON (domestic)… 2nd place at CWBL Open Finals with Twin City Spinners & named All-Star in Winnipeg, MB (domestic)…

2002: 3rd place at World Championships & named All-Star in Kitakyushu, Japan (Team Canada)… 1st place at Americas Qualification Tournament & named MVP in Vitória, Brazil (Team Canada)… 1st place at Roosevelt World Basketball Challenge in Warm Springs, USA (Team Canada)… 1st place at National Championships with Team Ontario & named All-Star in Montreal, QC (domestic)…

2001: 1st place at World Junior Championships & named MVP in Blumenau, Brazil (Team Canada)… 1st place at National Intercollegiate Championships (NIWBT) with the University of Illinois & named MVP in USA (domestic)… 2nd place at NWBA Final Four Championships with the University of Illinois & named All-Star in Chicago, USA (domestic)… 2nd place at National Championships with Team Ontario & named All-Star in Toronto, ON (domestic)… 2nd place at CWBL Open Finals with the Twin City Spinners & named All-Star in Saint John, NB (domestic)…

2000: 1st place at Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia (Team Canada)… 1st place at Pre-Paralympic Test Series in Amsterdam, Netherlands (Team Canada)… 1st place at Roosevelt World Basketball Challenge in Warm Springs, USA (Team Canada)… 1st place at National Intercollegiate Championships (NIWBT) with the University of Illinois & named MVP in USA (domestic)… 2nd place at NWBA Final Four Championships with the University of Illinois & named All-Star in Chicago, USA (domestic)… 2nd place at National Championships with Team Ontario & named All-Star in Edmonton, AB (domestic)… 2nd place at CWBL Open Finals with the Twin City Spinners & named All-Star in Vancouver, BC (domestic)…

1999: 2nd place at Parapan American Games in Mexico City, Mexico (Team Canada)… 2nd place at National Intercollegiate Championships (NIWBT) with the University of Illinois & named All-Star in USA (domestic)… 3rd place at NWBA Final Four Championships with the University of Illinois & named All-Star in Chicago, USA (domestic)… 1st place at National Championships with Team Ontario & named MVP in Calgary, AB (domestic)…2nd place at CWBL Open Finals with the Twin City Spinners & named All-Star in St-Hyacinthe, QC (domestic)…

1998:  3rd place at World Championships & named All-Star in Sydney, Australia (Team Canada)… 2nd place at Americas Qualification Tournament in Winnipeg, MB (Team Canada)… 1st place at National Intercollegiate Championships (NIWBT) with the University of Illinois & named MVP in USA (domestic)… 1st place at National Championships with Team Ontario & named MVP in Winnipeg, MB (domestic)… 1st place at CWBL Open Finals with the Twin City Spinners & named MVP in St-Hyacinthe, QC (domestic)…

1997: 1st place at World Junior Championships & named MVP in Toronto, ON (Team Canada)… 2nd place at National Championships with Team Ontario & named All-Star in Vancouver, BC (domestic)… 1st place at CWBL Junior Finals & named MVP (domestic)…

1996: 1st place at National Championships with Team Ontario & named MVP in Montreal, QC (domestic)…

1995: 3rd place at Canada Games with Team Ontario in Grande Prairie, AB (domestic)…

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