Anthony Bennett keeping NBA dream alive with strong showing in G League

When Anthony Bennett steps on the floor in a Maine Red Claws uniform, he looks motivated. He looks like he’s the biggest, strongest, most talented player on the court.

He looks confident.

He looks like a first-overall NBA draft pick should look.

But Bennett’s basketball career can only be described as a rollercoaster; the highs have been high, and the lows have been low.

Now, four years into his pro career and playing in the NBA G League, he’s feeling better than ever.

Bennett is currently leading the Red Claws in points per game; averaging 22.9 points, 12.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game.

The biggest difference though, is the drive and energy he’s playing with that fans aren’t used to seeing in the former Cleveland Cavalier, who unofficially won the honour of most unenthusiastic screen of the year back in 2013.

“I’ve just been working on my game, trying to stay consistent as much as possible,” said Bennett. “Day by day, you have to do something to better yourself, and I feel like I’ve been doing that every day to get myself one step closer [back to the NBA] each day.”

After being the first Canadian to be picked first overall in the NBA draft, Bennett went to the Cleveland Cavaliers before bouncing around from team to team — including playing with Team Canada teammate Andrew Wiggins in Minnesota — until he ended up back home in Canada playing for the Toronto Raptors in 2015.

He played just 4.4 minutes per game, and made the decision to ask for a reassignment down to the Raptor’s development team — this was the first time a No. 1 overall draft pick would play in the G League.

“I was practicing really hard, but I wasn’t getting a lot of playing time,” said Bennett. “So I thought coming down here [to the NBA G League] would be good for me to help me get in a better rhythm.”

“It helped me,” he continued. “I didn’t want to just sit there, I always want to be doing something that will help me get to where I want to be.”

The following year, the Toronto-native was picked up by the Brooklyn Nets, but reassigned down to their development team halfway through the season.

And that’s when Bennett decided to make a big change: He packed his bags and moved across the ocean, signing with a professional team in Turkey.

In 10 games, Bennett played only 6.4 minutes per game, averaging 1.2 points and under one rebound.

“It’s a different style in Europe, it’s a lot more slowed down, physical,” he said. “There’s a lot of rule changes as well, so that changes the game up a bit. Over here on this side, it’s a faster pace, you only have a couple seconds to make a decision. But for the most part, basketball is basketball wherever you go.”

Despite his small contribution on the team, Bennett still says it was a great experience because he was part of history. The Fenerbahce Istanbul squad earned the EuroLeague championship for the first time in the country’s history.

“It’s top three [basketball experiences for me], for sure,” said the 24-year-old. “Everyone was going crazy. The whole arena was going nuts, it was really cool.”

But then, Bennett was let go.

“Coming back home is definitely great, playing in front of family friends, it’s a nice feeling,” he said. “On this side [of the ocean] I can work on a lot of things and hopefully get back into the NBA.”

Now, Bennett is playing for his fourth NBA G League team; leading in points, second on the team in rebounds and assists, and third in blocks per game.

“Things you don’t see [on the stat sheet] is that he brings a veteran presence to the team,” said Brandon Bailey, head coach of the Maine Red Claws. “He’s a calming presence. He’s a good locker room guy, he’s coachable. He’s really good at communicating on the floor defensively.”

“He’s an invaluable member to this team,” he continued.

And Bailey says Bennett is doing everything he can to make his way back to the big leagues. It appears, at least to fans, that he’s gotten his fire back. He’s in shape, more muscular than he’s been in a while, and his hustle is unmatched; blocking a player on one end and then the first man down the floor in transition.

“I can’t comment on his past, but for us he’s great. He’s in the gym half an hour before everyone else every day,” he said. “Every single time he steps on the floor, he’s improving. He puts in all the time and effort every day.”

Bennett says he’s a different person from when he was drafted into the NBA and is working hard to get back to the place that he once took for granted.

“I was young,” he said. “I know now I just have to focus on my game and focus on what I need to work on.”

“Every day I’m working, and I know I’ll get there.”

More NBA coverage on Yahoo Sports: